Be thou my vision O Lord of my heart . . .
To see inwardly and outwardly with the eyes of Jesus! Wouldn’t that be amazing, and no doubt shattering to our illusions of self-importance. But just think of the freedom we would find there, seeing the world as it really is, not as we would wish it or fear it to be. Think of the love unleashed!
Saul had such a moment on the road to Damascus. How ironic that it initially blinded him. To see clearly, to see with the eyes of Jesus, he first had to recognize that he could not see at all on his own. He had to be led for three days in utter darkness before Ananias met him with healing touch and the Holy Spirit and the waters of baptism into new life.

Most conversions to the way of Jesus are not so dramatic nor so compelling nor have any borne the fruits of faith quite as abundantly as Paul’s did and does. Our turning toward the voice and the vision of Jesus is likely an ongoing process, progressing in fits and starts for most of us.

Thou my best thought by day or by night . . .
The New Testament asserts again and again that without Jesus Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5). The first half of that verse is most promising: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit . . .” Now that’s Good News! So how do we return to and remain a part of the vine; just how do we abide in Jesus?

Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light.
The only answer that was and is and ever shall be is by the grace of God. But we can adopt and practice a stance that allows us to receive the gift of grace more readily and fully. We can pray. It is always the Holy One who initiates prayer—be it a stirring of the heart, a restlessness of mind, a desire of the will, or awe in the face of great tragedy or great beauty. I understand prayer as any response to an inkling of God’s presence stirring the soul. Sometimes we stutter words in response; sometimes we simply show up in silence. Sometimes we cry or sing or even dance.

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart . . .
Our feeble attempts at prayer surely delight the heart of God who loves us. Without our participation, God’s love is just a one-way street. Think of how we feel when we open up deeply and vulnerably to another, only to be met with an embarrassed silence or worse yet, distance, or worst of all, indifference. We are called into a relationship with the Source of the cosmos in the person of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit in and among us. Wow! We don’t want to miss that or walk the other way! It’s the best that life has to offer. It is life! Prayer is a stance by which we show up, give thanks, receive the gift and pass it on.

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision. O Ruler of all.
What about churches? Do local congregations such as ours go through conversions, too? I guess history would call such moments and movements awakenings or renewals or reformations. They, too, are likely born out of trauma, a certain blindness and repentance. Striding or stumbling along a wayward path, our own Damascus Road, we might hear Jesus calling out, “Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Let’s pray for that yoke . . . individually and together.

In Christ’s love, Pastor Christine