Be Thou My Vision

Music has always been an important part of my life. I guess you could say my love for music was instilled in me as a young child. Both my parents, love music. But, I think, even more, my father breathes it. I cannot remember a time in my life where music was not some how connected to my father. I have memories of driving in the car with him-blasting some latest hit, of hearing him talk about the band he was in in high school, or the time, when I was five and he gave me my first record cleaner (a sort of brush that you used to dust off records)-I was so excited.

I have found that music can somehow hit some of the deepest cords in my life. It has this ability to reach the inner parts of me that mere words could never reach. In a moment, a song can take me back to memories of my childhood or express the feelings that I am inhabiting at that moment.

There is one song that I have found resignating in my heart as of late and it is the hymn: "Be Thou My Vision". I, normally, am not one to listen to Hymns. I find myself more inclined to modern music. But, I cannot escape from the connection I feel to this song. I find it expressing the heart of one hoping in God regardless of Circumstances. It speaks the heart of who God is and who he wants to be for us.

After doing some research, I found that the hymn was orginally written about 700 CE (AD.) in Irish Monastic Tradition. But, was not translated to English until 1905. The purpose of the song was to be a sort of incantation. It was to be recited for protection arming oneself for spiritual or physical battle. This song reminds us that God is with us, through some of the most difficult times in our life. When I listen to this song, I am reminded that God is my vision. And though I may go through tough times, if I can see God before me and the many ways He has never let me down, I know my "battles" will be won.

I have recorded the song onto my blog, so that you can have chance to hear the song for yourself (Just press the play button next to the date). It is not the entire version of the song, however, still brings the heart of the message. I, also, want to write the song down for you because the words really are powerful. And they speak my heart at the present.

Be Thou My Vision
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.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word,
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

And that is my prayer: that no matter what happens to me that God would still be my Vision, that I could find shelter for my soul in Him, that He would always be my High Tower, that His presence would always be my light, that He would always be the greatest joy in my life, and that I would remember that He will always be the High King of Heaven, so my victory is already won......