Hymn #365 in Celebrating Grace Hymnal — “More Love to Thee, O Christ”
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Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best;
This all my prayer shall be: more love, O Christ, to Thee.[/pullquote_center]
A popular occupation among many folks these days is the ‘dream book’ or ‘vision board’. Truth be told, these may not be new things under the sun. To make one of these boards or books, you collect trinkets, pictures, clippings and other inspiring things to point you toward your ‘dream life’ or ‘ideal self’. McMansion in your future? Glue it on there! High fashion wardrobe? Dress for success? Paste it in! Eco-friendly, off-the-grid, sustainable beach living on a remote South Seas island? Journal it! The problem with these vision boards and dream books is that they are long on dream and vision, and short on nuts and bolts.
In this verse from this 19th-century hymn, we run up against the same ‘vision board’ thinking. Well-intentioned followers seek not riches or beauty or prestige, but joy, and peace, and rest. Ok, you say. All good things, God things, even. What could be the problem here, and why can’t I seem to find them? It turns out, the problem is the same as with a vision board. We are seeking results, not the path. The hymnist lays down the chase after results to a pure search for Christ, and surrender to whatever comes with finding Him. Things, maybe, like joy, and peace, and rest.
Leigh Anne Armstrong