Praising the Lord throughout the 4 stages of (fire-ful) life

Recently, I have been creating new lyrics for a traditional old hymn (“Be Thou My Vision”) as part of a competition in Hong Kong. The theme of the competition is “opening up & to give“- fundamentally, it addresses the question of how we respond to and give back in response to God’s love and thanksgiving?

The idea of my piece is on my journey within and attitude towards Faith throughout the 4 stages of life (although I am far from reaching the elderly stage), using the 4 stages of fire (ignition, growth, fully developed, and decay) as representations from childhood transitioning to old age.

幼少成老 皆奉我主

旋律:《求作我遠象》

開拓 . 獻呈

幼年

純幼的燭光 我靠主得力!

以祢的曙光 來領導我行！

我的心多切慕和渴想祢！

在祢的居所 我心滿意足！

少年

火焰正直焚燃 未被撲拭！

我褐誠禱告與讚美感恩！

我願將全心 都奉獻於祢！

擁有的一切 也得以綻放！

成年

烈日中光火正猛猛照亮!

眾人妙奏高歌 皆大歡欣!

我會將高聲  稱揚讚頌祢！

厚賜豐收成 獻祭台盛放!

老年

軀炭復還原地 歸屬塵土！

種子發芽重生 榮頌主恩！

我讓身軀血迹 汗水長留！

重歸祢懷抱 盼永留祢殿！

Giving back to the Lord throughout the 4 (fire-ful) stages of life

Childhood

As an innocent spark, I have to put my trust in the Lord to gain my strength!

I lead my path according to your light!

My heart is yearning for and admiring you!

My heart feels fulfilled within your place.

Youth

The flame is igniting and have not been wiped out!

I am praying and being thankful fervently!

I am willing to give to you wholeheartedly!

Everything that I have will bloom and blossom!

Adulthood

Under the bright daylight, the fire is burning bright! Everyone is singing loudly - their melodic tunes merry and bright!

I will use my voice to praise and spread good words of you!

All the wages and fruits will reap on Your stage!

Elderly

The body and ashes returns to the land and into the dust

The seeds are reborn and getting ripe, growing to bless you!

I will let my body, blood and sweat stay forever!

Returning to your arms, I hope to stay in your palace forever!

Explanation:

During my young childhood days, I was much more reliant on God. His mercy and light directed my vision as I was rather naïve and lacked experience. However as I mature, the fire within me burns more intensely; this echos my passion to praise and give thanks to the Lord through prayer and voice wholeheartedly. My wage and what I reap from work- I plan to devote it to Christ and the Church. During the elderly stage, as fire blackens into ash and returns to the soil, it ferments the seeds and new roots continue to blossom to grace the Lord. 🌱 May the legacy of one’s blood, sweat, tears and body throughout the 4 stages of life remain in Christ’s abode forever.

Through the repetitive use of “You” and “I” in every stanza, it represents the intimate relationship between myself and God the Father; I hope to devote myself and open myself up to God, such that I will lead my life by faith rather than by sight, and to give praise to Him through my everyday actions. Just as Jesus said, “'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” (Acts 20:35), what I have gained from the Lord when I was young, may they bear fruits of the Spirit such that I may repay my love to the Lord “with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength.” (Mark 12:30)

In fact, this is a video I created for another version of the lyrics I wrote — in this version I filled in the lyrics hand picked from Psalms in the Bible.

上主是我的亮光, 我必得受救

💭💭我 的 心 等 候 主 ， 勝 於 守 夜 的 等 候 天 亮

旋律:《求作我遠象》

黎明（Beginning with the Dawn)

神，祢的亮光是我的拯救！

在祢的光中，我必得受救！

世人投靠在祢翅膀蔭下，

在祢的寶殿，我 得以飽足！

中午（Be Still, it's Noon)

白晝中，默然地傾託我主！

祢的亮光遠勝午日光明 !

我的心都在渴想、切慕祢!

神, 祢 是我臉上的光榮！

黃昏（Waiting till Dusk)

夕陽西下時，瀑布在發聲！

從日出之地，到日落之處！

祢的波浪洪濤，漫過我身！

日照至夕陽，我 都在歡呼！

黑夜（Herald the Dark Night)

黑夜臨降時，有祢的導引！

祢的曙光 能領導我行！

幸福的夜裡， 我見亦無影！

祢我深知情， 吳室已靜息！

The Lord is my Light, I Shall be Saved

Beginning with the Dawn

Dear God, your light is my salvation!

I shall be saved in your light!

People on earth sit under the shade of your wings,

I feel fulfilled and warm inside your palace!

Be Still, it's Noon

During noon time, I quietly lean on my God!

Your light is far brighter than the light of the noon!

My heart is longing for and admiring you!

God, you are the glory written on my face!

Waiting till Dusk

When the sun sets in the west, the waterfall is calling out loud!

From where the sun rises to where the sun sets!

Your waves are floating by my body!

From sunrise to sunset, I am praising You!

Herald the Dark Night

When the dark night is upon, I have your guidance!

Your beacon of light can direct my path!

In the pleasant dark night, I cannot even see my own shadow!

With the tight bond between You and I, I feel nothing but peace!

The idea of this piece is about relying on God and using Him as light to direct my vision throughout the 4 parts of the day- Dawn, noon, dusk and throughout the dark night. The use of several similes used, for example comparing God (You) to the wings of a celestial angel / dove in the “dawn” stanza, waterfalls / waves in the “dusk” stanza and beacon of light in the “dark night” stanza. These symbolisms of nature is a reflection of God’s creations on Earth and these are also all supernatural icons, just like the Lord’s love and light shone Himself- uncountable and insurmountable.