Be Thou My Vision

I perform on piano nearly every Saturday afternoon at Chocolate Springs Cafe, in Lenox, MA. There amidst people enjoying the world-class deserts, coffees and exotic teas, I play improvised interpretations of "My Favorite Things" or Dave Matthews' "Crash Into Me," or The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" (here's a video of Little Help)

In fact, my CD "Haven," was recorded there. The selections I chose for the CD were those in which the alchemy was right, when the listening ear meets the music and as I sense it, inspiration carries my playing farther and wider and deeper.

Yesterday afternoon, people were absorbed in conversation, enjoying their social time with family, friends. Then, just prior to the end of my "gig" I decided to play several hymns (I've been introduced to so much beautiful music playing at the Worthington Congregational Church, where I'm the pianist.)

As I began to play, the atmosphere changed. A palpable stillness emerged. The air grew "viscous." I've come to recognize these moments as manifestations or reminders of the Divine, of God, or spirit--whatever you feel comfortable calling it.

The music was an opening into that realm. "Be Thou My Vision" was the perfect hymn for the moment. It speaks of the ineffable, to remember it always and know that it will never abandon us.

Here is my piano interpretation of "Be Thou My Vision," recorded yesterday at Chocolate Springs.

"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..."

Indeed, we ARE intrinsically connected to that which is Infinite, Beautiful and TRUE. Wherever you are as you're reading now, contemplate this realm which is extraordinary and the source of strength and healing. See if anything comes to you.

Coda:
This morning I woke early to play at Worthington Church and there quite unexpectedly--because it's rare for late November in New England--was a rainbow arching over my street...another beautiful reminder of that ineffable realm and its myriad manifestations of beauty in the world.