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How Far Away Is Heaven
Composer Carson P. Cooman
Text Richard Leach
Voicing SATB, keyboard
Topics Prodigal Son
Length 2' 30" Price $1.60 (U.S.) Released 6/05
Catalog no. 420-644 Difficulty Moderately easy
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 Description
Though scored for adult voices, this anthem will be easily comprehensible to even the youngest worshippers: Each stanza of Richard Leach's text opens with a childlike question, which is answered directly in terms drawn from Christ's Parable of the Prodigal Son. The music, too, is simple and direct, so the work could conceivably serve as a sort of musical children’s sermon. But it is much more than that: with its focus on the nearness and love of God, the piece will be valuable in a variety of settings including funerals.
Anthem text
How far away is heaven,
your home, O Holy One?
The distance of a journey
made by a younger son.
With wealth his father gave him,
he went away from home;
and how far did he travel?
As far as he could go.
How near at hand is heaven,
your home, O Holy One?
Near as a father waiting
to welcome back a son.
A feast for all will welcome
the child he waits to see;
and how near is the father?
As near as he can be.
How far is heaven?
As far as lost from found.
How near at hand is heaven?
As near as found to lost;
as love whose wait and welcome
are precious past all cost.
--Richard Leach, 2001.
© 2008 Selah Publishing Co., Inc. www.selahpub.com
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