He must have liked the idea of living in the ‘sunshine state’
of Florida, one might imagine, since he centered his thoughts on sunshine in
some words he composed at mid-life. But actually, as a New Jersey native, Henry
Jeffreys Zelley was lauding “Heavenly Sunlight” as he turned 40, and as he
considered not only the new century that was about to begin, but also the future
beyond any time-constrained realm. Was there something in his first 40 years on
earth that might have persuaded him to think this way?
From what we know of Henry Zelley, his life’s purpose
followed closely what he expressed in the hymn composed at the close of the 19th
Century. Zelley was an evangelist for 40 years, and ministered in 19 different
churches over his lifetime, reportedly, so he must have been very familiar with
moving about frequently, making new friends and acquaintances, and finding his
purpose in a new area. By the time he was 40, he’d been in ministry about a
decade, and would continue for another 30 years before retiring at age 70. So,
it’s safe to assume that he’d already moved at least a few times and
established a few habits in his ministry life as he thought about the light
from above. He apparently wrote poetry for about 1,500 songs and hymns over his
lifetime, so that was one custom we know he exhibited. He was known as an ardent
“fisher of men”, and the 1899 hymn’s words bear that out. His zeal and joy for
God’s presence are evident in his words, something he must have taken with himself
as he moved from place to place. He urged hearers to seek the ‘promise divine’,
the ‘mansions above’ by travelling in the ‘sunlight of love’. One might metaphorically
label this light an anchor, as it seems to be Zelley’s security, his safe zone
where he finds a cheerful companionship, no matter how new and unfamiliar his
surroundings might have been. Perhaps Zelley had observed this message of a Godly
sunlight warming seekers in the previous churches where he’d worked, and
decided the way to make a new area familiar was to bring the same message along
wherever he moved. That’s not hard to believe, is it?
How easy is it really to leave one place and make another
home? Henry Zelley moved around about every two or three years, on average. He
sounds like a military brat, jumping from one assignment to another. He was a ‘rolling
stone’, and one wonders whether he did so willingly so that he wouldn’t gather
moss, or grow stale. Were there things about each place that prompted each
move, or instead intriguing opportunities that drew his vision elsewhere? Zelley
speaks of his ‘journey’ over various areas, but always with the sunlight. Could
it be that, in fact, it was the Son-light
he had with him?
Sources for background on the song story are the book “The
Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs”,
by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006; and the following websites:
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