Be Thou My Vision

I love history...especially as it pertains to me. I love when I can see a direct correllation between ancient peoples and myself. Never can I see it more clearly than in the writings of some of the earliest Christians. So pure, so true...Our story is their story, our hearts, their hearts. We share a love and an experience in Christ that spans time and eternity. We are bound to them with cords that cannot be broken.
You may sing this song in your church, I know we do sometimes. Who would ever have guessed that it came from the earliest days of Chirstianity in Ireland, it is still so pertinent today. Same heart..same Lord.
**********************************
Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Dal­lan For­gaill, 8th Cen­tu­ry Ireland and trans­lat­ed from an­cient Ir­ish to Eng­lish by Mary E Byrne, in “Eriú,” Jour­nal of the School of Ir­ish Learn­ing, 1905, and versed by Eleanor H Hull, 1912, alt.

Music: “Slane,” of Ir­ish folk or­i­gin
Slane Hill is about ten miles from Ta­ra in Coun­ty Meath. It was on Slane Hill around 433 AD that St. Pat­rick de­fied a roy­al edict by light­ing can­dles on East­er Eve. High King Lo­gaire of Ta­ra had de­creed that no one could light a fire be­fore Lo­gaire be­gan the pa­gan spring fes­ti­val by light­ing a fire on Ta­ra Hill. Lo­gaire was so im­pressed by Pat­rick’s de­vo­tion that, de­spite his de­fi­ance (or per­haps be­cause of it­), he let him con­tin­ue his mis­sion­ary work. The rest is his­to­ry.

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.

An ancient song...it says so many important things. But above and beyond all the wonderful things that it says, may I each day be reminded that being good is not the goal, doing it right or being blessed is not the goal, heaven is not the goal....He alone is the Prize, the Pearl of Great Price worth trading my life for, worth giving all for and like the ancient saint who penned these words I pray that whatever befalls...
He is the Goal! He is the Vision!
This entire life's experience is not about me at all. It is about Jesus Christ, God's Son!