A hymn text I wrote for my Hymnody class project. Free to use without misattribution or alteration.
The Beatific Vision
1. Light of light, all light bestowing
on Eve's daughters, Adam's sons:
May I know but once Thy brightness,
and be blinded, radiant One!
Blind to all that would obscure Thee
from my dim and sinful gaze:
blind to all that still allures me
from Thy love and from Thy ways.
2. Like the man born blind I knew Thee,
saw Thee not, but heard Thy voice:
like the sheep that knows its Shepherd,
heard Thee calling, and rejoiced!
Through the gloom, heard Thee invite me
though the night was bitter cold,
knew Thy gentle hand would guide me
to the safety of Thy fold.
3. Some despised me for my blindness
and reduced me to my sins,
but my Maker, meek and humble,
knelt beside me as a Friend:
with the dirt that once defiled,
with the spit that was my shame,
forming clay, remade His child,
made me whole and breathed my name.
4. Then I followed Him, but faltered,
unaccustomed to my sight:
And although not all was darkness,
Neither still was all yet light.
For I'd found a deeper blindness,
hidden veins of pride within:
But I found yet greater kindness
when He called my name again.
5. Call at last then, Lord, and lift me
to that height of heights wherein
I'll behold Thy blazing glory
and be blinded once again:
Not with blindness meant to cover
and disguise my sinful past,
but the blindness of a lover
who beholds his Love at last.
Text: SMC, June 17, 2020 87.87D
Tune: BEACH SPRING
Yes, "child" is fudged. It sings well to me.
The Beatific Vision
1. Light of light, all light bestowing
on Eve's daughters, Adam's sons:
May I know but once Thy brightness,
and be blinded, radiant One!
Blind to all that would obscure Thee
from my dim and sinful gaze:
blind to all that still allures me
from Thy love and from Thy ways.
2. Like the man born blind I knew Thee,
saw Thee not, but heard Thy voice:
like the sheep that knows its Shepherd,
heard Thee calling, and rejoiced!
Through the gloom, heard Thee invite me
though the night was bitter cold,
knew Thy gentle hand would guide me
to the safety of Thy fold.
3. Some despised me for my blindness
and reduced me to my sins,
but my Maker, meek and humble,
knelt beside me as a Friend:
with the dirt that once defiled,
with the spit that was my shame,
forming clay, remade His child,
made me whole and breathed my name.
4. Then I followed Him, but faltered,
unaccustomed to my sight:
And although not all was darkness,
Neither still was all yet light.
For I'd found a deeper blindness,
hidden veins of pride within:
But I found yet greater kindness
when He called my name again.
5. Call at last then, Lord, and lift me
to that height of heights wherein
I'll behold Thy blazing glory
and be blinded once again:
Not with blindness meant to cover
and disguise my sinful past,
but the blindness of a lover
who beholds his Love at last.
Text: SMC, June 17, 2020 87.87D
Tune: BEACH SPRING
Yes, "child" is fudged. It sings well to me.