Clear Vision musings

I heard a story this week about one of my favorite hymns, an old celtic hymn, I’m sure most of you know – Be Thou My Vision, by Patrick, missionary to Ireland in the early 400′s. (Not all attribute it to him.)

I was listening to a message by Joe Morecraft, so I hope I get all these details right. Joe had heard about some Indian scratchings, from pre-1000, in the mountains in southern Virginia, and he asked his grandma, who was 97 and lived there, if she knew anything about them. She said yes, and told him where about, and to go find an old timer there and they could no doubt give him directions to go see them. He did and found them. But as he was looking at them, he knew these weren’t just Indian scratchings. He had seen these petroglyphs before. It was ancient Irish petroglyph writing, and it was the words to Be Thou My Vision, — in southern Virginia, — in America, written there before 1000 AD. Awesome!

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.

SDG,
Lisa