Be Thou My Vision (Heaven’s Shores)

One of my favorite Hymns, Be Thou My Vision, seemed to just linger in my mind that Sunday. It was the final song in my music set that morning at church. It was also the song I was memorizing to sing at a dear friend’s memorial.

That night I went to bed with it still in my head. The melody, although beautiful, seemed to be trapped like a caged dove. With the ending of each verse, the cadence seemed to have no release. It would fall back to the beginning again only to repeat the stanza all over; the sound of wings hitting wire. The lyric also seemed to stir up within me a longing to actually see this “vision” the author was asking for. That night I fell asleep to an unanswered music riddle.

It was as though I awoke inside a dream. The images were realistic and vivid. I could hear the sound of the ocean breakers behind me as the small boat I was in gently lifted and settled with each wave that ushered me closer to shore. My skin was sunburnt, lips chapped and my cloths tattered. The last wave pushed the bough into the sand. I was weak and could barely stand as I pulled myself up to lean against the mast. I could see something moving on shore. I pushed away a remnant of the torn sail that brushed across my face to get an unobstructed view. A figure was walking toward me. The sun light was coming from his direction, splashing my eyes with such brilliance it made it difficult to see his face - I couldn’t tell if the light was coming from behind him or actually coming from him. All I remember is a child like surge of joy burst out of my chest and I yelled “Jesus!” as I leaped from the boat running to Him with all my might. I could feel Him smiling as his arms opened wide - he was laughing - I was crying.

I awoke with my face wet. I don’t ever recall crying in my sleep before, but that night I did. Perhaps the strangest thing about all of this was that I heard the music; the whole bridge section that I added to this hymn in its entirety; the melody, the lyrics, even the chord movement beneath the arrangement. I got out of bed and worked on it until sunrise.

This hymn has always felt like a prayer asking God to be our vision in this life, and to me there is no better vision than the one we’ll have in the next life. I hope in some small way this song will give your heart a glimpse of what that might feel like.

Be Thou My Vision (Heaven’s Shores)

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 and I, Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

When I come to rest on heaven’s shores at last

I’ll see You, see You

I will run into Your arms to stay

Forever, forever

Every journey, hope, and dream will meet

Your glory, Your glory

Shining love, eternal light I’ll bow

Before You, adore You

Then my vision will be complete

High King of heaven, my victory won

My I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still by my vision, oh Ruler of all

Public Domain (Verses); Dallan Forgai/(Bridge); Words & Music by Daniel Applegate, Copyright c 2018, Plan Z Music, (ASCAP)