Connecting the Dots

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart — a continuation of yesterday’s post.

Photo by Compare Fibre on Unsplash

It seems especially true today that we are either on the side of this old hymn or we oppose its meaning with every molecule of our being.

We either see ourselves as liberated life forces under the absolute control of whatever it is we choose, which usually boils down to being slaves to our own appetites, or we follow this Lord of men’s  hearts, this High King of Heaven.

These poets (because I credit the creative translators along with the original writer) are really writing about the plain and ancient fact that we can’t have it both ways.

It is vital we connect some dots here.

For example, we can’t submit to the powers and authorities who see people as consumers and nothing more. We must decide, and then live out, either that people are here for no particular reason beyond self-preservation or because they (including you and me) have worth that transcends mortality; that we either have inalienable rights or our value is linked to some sort of credit score.

It can’t be both, and to not decide is to have decided already.

Either children and their future lives growing and developing into loving mature productive human beings is worth defending or it is okay to allow their minds and hearts to be turned over to those who wish to teach them sexual perversions. Either we believe that governments, including school boards, have the final say on how children should be raised, or that this is the responsibility of parents.

Either we believe the family is an important institution for the survival of humanity itself, or that most of us must live under the whims and tyranny of the state composed of an elite minority who seek to manage the masses for their own green new deal.

Are human beings, regardless their sex (male or female), ethnicity, or socioeconomic status of more value and importance than salamanders on the protected species list?

Are there any rational justifications for seeking to reducing the world populations through abortion, sterilization, unnecessary wars, starvation, or life-risking medical experiments protected under perpetual emergency use authorizations?

Is it still okay to not connect the dots?

Or, instead, should we study the words of this hymn  with a bit more care?

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

The word Naught means Nothing.

May nothing else be of any worth, except knowing you, Lord, as you truly are.

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 Tow’r:
Raise Thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.

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 Heav’n's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

This final verse is the climax of the poem. Our victory in life comes, not having defeated some earthly enemy. It comes when we choose allegiance to the High King of Heaven. That’s why it is aptly described, when we choose to do this, as being reborn. Heaven’s joys are available today and then continue on past this brief life.

My prayer for you is that you are connecting the dots.