There was a music group back in the day called 4Him. If you’ve never heard of them, go buy their Christmas CD. No really – it’s the best Christmas album you’ll ever come across, I promise. If you don’t want to commit to a full album right away, download their version of Little Drummer Boy – it is phenomenal!
Anyway, they have a version of the old hymn “Be Thou My Vision” that is beautiful. In general, I like hymns, but Be Thou My Vision was never one of my favorites. I don’t think I understood it. It was never one of those songs that my heart sang.
But my soul got it this week.
I had one of those days, that stretched into one of those nights, that stretched into one of those mornings, where you wonder what is worth getting out of bed for. I am not usually one to throw pity parties, but an interesting turn of events early in the week caused me to temporarily lose all sense of purpose.
Without going into detail, it was one of those scenarios where I could not see past my pain. I saw nothing but hurt, hurt stretching out as far as my eye could see. As far as my heart could hope, that was nothing but hurt and devastation.
If left to my own devices, I would have stayed in bed cycling through the pain over and over and over again.
But sometime before my heart got as as far as it could hurt, my soul started humming “Be Thou My Vision” and for the first time, my heart understood the gravity of those timeless words.
The song was written by a monk in the 8th Century in honor of St. Patrick who famously defied the order of the King and lit candles on Easter. The song is often credited to Mary E. Byrne who translated the song to English. And throughout all these centuries and I cannot guarantee what the original intention of the words was, but the other day the songs message was crystal clear.
My vision would get me no where – my devastated, frustrated, hurt heart was at a dead end. And it was blinding me to all hope.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Psalm 29:18
But where the Lord cast the vision, my outlook over the horizon completely changed.
It was no longer a song with nice words, phrased in old English. It was a desperate plea that I not be stuck with my limited vision, but that I see with His perspective.
A plea that the Lord who reigns in my heart, would also reign in my sight.
It was enough to get me out of bed. Enough to put a small but steady smile on my face.
The Lord’s vision reminded me of the purpose He has set in my heart.
His vision reminded me that no matter how bleak the day might be, His hope always reigns.
Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
[Mary E. Byrne]
be Thou my vision,
Katie
