This , too, is a hymn that I have sung many times at funerals. It is a very comforting hymn to many.. Sometimes, maybe the theology isn't as important as the comfort.

WHat theology?  REally all this does is tell the Easter story.  Some theolog about moving out into the world in verse three.

However the song is overdone at funerals and the tune is a little gag worthy.  I hve used it at Easter worship to remind people what it really is about.

Again - it was one that my father would sing as a solo in church...cms

Here is some history

"In the Garden."

C. Austin Miles writes his own story on how the words were written to "In the Garden."  Listen as you read:  Click Here

 "One day in March, 1912, I was seated in the darkroom where I kept my photographic equipment and organ.  I drew my Bible toward me; it opened at my favorite chapter, John 20 . . . That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power to charm.  As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene.  I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary's life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, "Rabboni!" . . . Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared.  That same evening I wrote the music."
(From Forty Gospel Hymn Stories, by Sanville)

This hymn was sung in the mo­vie Plac­es in the Heart, which won two Acad­e­my Awards in 1984.

and it doesn't even tell the story all that well, either.

Actually, I've never associated this with Easter at all. The first time someone mentioned that to me, I was honestly surprised.

For me, the imagery is of  a contemplative space. The place where we step out of the world to hear that "still small voice" and be enfolded in the intimate personal relationship we each have with God/Theos.

Here's where I get to tick off about three quarters of you.  I'm not a fan of the song.  I used to like it, but then I got analytical... and heard it sung and played at way too many funerals...

One evening in a reflective mood I read over the lyrics, and it struck me that this was basically Christian softcore pornography.  If it hadn't been such a popular hymn, it would have been suggestive enough to be banned from  radio airplay in the 1940's.  Think about it... He walks with me, he talks with me, tells me I am his own, the joy we share as we tarry there...  Connect the dots!  what are they doing there??

I never connected it with easter either.