Light a Fire
Poems. Lyrics. Books. They have origin stories.
I just learned the origin of my favorite hymn...
On the evening before Easter in 433AD on the Hill of Slane in County Meath, Ireland a former slave lit a fire. He lit a fire and sang a hymn. He defied a royal decree.
Lighting a fire any other day was, well, normal. Expected. Necessary. But this evening before Easter and the Spring Equinox was exceptional. High King Logaire of Tara had ordered that he alone was to light the first fire that night beginning the Druid spring festival. Lighting that fire before the King was equivalent to declaring war on the Druids & the rulers of Ireland.
The former slave was born Scottish. Captured by pirates at 14. Enslaved in Ireland. Escaped years later. Committed his life to Christ's service. Returned at 30 to lead the Irish people to the One who had captured his heart. Lit a fire and sang a hymn.
High King Logaire is said to have been so impressed with the former slave's arrogance that he let him continue his missionary work. By the end of his life, the former slave saw over 2000 churches started and more than 100,000 Irish people come to faith in Christ. The former slave changed Ireland forever.
The hymn he'd composed and sung, translated into English verse in 1905 by Eleanor H. Hull: Be Thou My Vision.
Saint Patrick, the former slave of an Irish person, became a slave to Christ for the Irish people. With a great vision set and a small fire lit, Saint Patrick changed history.
How am I enslaved?
What is my vision?
What fire should I light?
Of the many versions of this classic hymn available, I love this one by Scottish artist, Steph MacLeod, and friends.
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