One of my favorite musical forms is the spiritual. For as long as I can remember, one of my favorite spirituals has been “Sweet Little Jesus Boy.” I don’t know why, exactly. I like the melody. I like some of the images it calls to mind. It stirs up some deep feelings within me. I don’t know, I just like it.

But recently, some of the words have been troubling me. All throughout the song there is the recurring phrase, “We didn’t know who you was,” or, “We didn’t know ‘twas you.” One typical verse says,

“The world treat you mean, Lord, treat me mean too;
But please, sir, forgive us Lord, we didn’t know ‘twas you.”

Those words have been troubling me.

When our children were in their teen years, we took a long family trip. One of the highlights was a night when we went to Broadway in New Yor…