These songs, among many hymns, were sung by me, unknowingly, while moving up in the choral ranks from grade school all the way to college.
My mother taught me how to listen to music, in a way that it touches the soul.
I didn't quite know who God was back then, but looking back I see my life was so desperate for Him; I didn't know He was who I needed.
Although back in those days my mind could not wrap itself around the lyrics and the idea of God, my soul was always quenched by the deep penetrating notes and the angelic voices that filled up the music halls up and down California. Year after year I longed to be enveloped in the sounds that I chose to be representative of heaven. Needless to say, I took choir very seriously.
It was the one consistent activity that I could never do without. I had a relationship with the music, and it was always disappointing to me to find that after a performance, those who sang the music were as devious and childlike as I was.
It always seemed that the music found me at Choral events and competitions. As we sat listening to our competitors on stage I would sit with my eyes closed refusing to watch singing teenagers who were just moments ago trying to hide their acne behind their hair, stuck behind their mirrors and chasing each other around a courtyard (I pride myself that I wasn't one of those! lol).
Yet, instead, I let the sounds they projected fill up space and float on my horizon. Certain songs tugged at my heart and I went searching for the song, the lyrics, the composer. Many times I could not find them. But, after many, many years
it happened again... Sunday, while visiting St.Norbit church in the city of Orange a woman by the name of Lois played a song on the piano, and as she played it was as if I were seeing an old, old friend from far away, on the horizon; just watching.
I don't know if you understand what that feels like...but I liken it to being what our encounter might be like when going to heaven (home) and seeing Jesus there with his arms open.
There is something so special in this hymn, and all of the other hymns, it makes my heart heavy just reading the lyrics. The combination of the music, the lyrics and now my relationship with God and his Son, make listening to these songs very emotional for me.
There are certain places in the soul that only these hymns can reach.
Let me introduce you to a couple old friends of mine: (lyrics)
COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace; Streams of mercy never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above; Praise His name, I'm fixed upon it, Name of Gods redeeming love.
O to grace how great a debtor, Daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee;
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart, O, take and seal it; Seal it for thy courts above.
BE THOU MY VISIONBe Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart
Nought 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 and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I need 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
Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart
Nought 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
High king of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joy, bright heaven sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, oh ruler of all
Still be my vision, oh ruler of all
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