GOD BE IN ME

The words “God be in my head and in my thinking” have been repeating over and over again in my head for the past several days. I know the tune that accompanies this single repeating phrase for I have sung this phrase and more on some occasion. I decided to write about this sort of broken record petition running in my head and began to search for the hymn in the Methodist Hymnal, in The Faith We Sing and in my copy of the Chalice Hymnal. I finally found what I was looking for in the Chalice Hymnal (#268), which does not include the haunting tune. As it turns out I have been repeating the phrase incorrectly, but it is the first line of a prayerful devotion from the Sarum Primer also known as the liturgical book of devotions used in pre-reformation Salisbury, England circa 1554. No, I am not channeling Julian of Norwich. The full text of “God Be in Me” reads:

“God be in my head and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes and in my looking;
God be in my mouth and in my speaking;
God be in my heart and in my thinking;
God be at my end and at my departing.”

When we speak the words of the meditation we are petitioning God to be present in our every thought, in what we comprehend, in what we see, in how we see, in what goes into our mouths, even how we taste, and the words or sounds that come forth from them. We are petitioning God to be present in our emotions and in our thoughts, at the end of our lives and the moment of our departure from this earthly realm. Devout persons have meditated upon these 5 phrases for nearly 500 years and they are just as relevant today when pondered and repeated in times of quiet soul searching as they were in the 16th century. Each phrase is a prayer in its own right. Each is easy to remember. The themes are simple and the words are quite portable. As a matter of fact they have lately accompanied me wherever I am at all hours of the day. Since Sunday morning June 14th they have been calling me to be more alert to the opportunities that are put before me, to behave kindly, to act with patience, to be less defensive on behalf of the church and more willing to listen to the least of these. The words have been calling me to be more tuned in to the vow I made in 1983 “to be diligent in understanding the faith to which the doctrines of the church bear witness, and proclaiming by word and action the truth of the gospel as God gives me opportunity; to endeavor to be a steadfast and prayerful disciple, daily following the rule and teaching of our Lord to the end that my life and the lives I touch may be fashioned by the gospel.” I pray that these words continue to sing in my head reminding me to ask God to be a part of my every thought, word and deed, to be ever in my thinking that I may do all the good I can, by all the means I can, in all the ways I can, in all the places I can, at all the times I can, to all the people I can, as long as ever I can. Amen.
Blessings,
Rev. Amanda