With the new supplement coming out soon, we asked practitioner Eric Oyama to give us a few of his favorite poems and hymns that he has worked with over the years. Hymns and poems are so special, because they provide a quick and nice thought in times of distress or in times of spiritual reflection.
I recently was away with my beach volleyball team on spring break for a tournament where our mission was to play boldly and express our firm belief in ourselves and our partner. However, a couple days into the trip, found that I was struggling with an ache in my knee. Instead of reverting back to thoughts such as, “Oh no, I hope this doesn’t hinder the whole trip – I came all the way out here to play!” I was quickly put in check when my partner reminded me of Hymn 18:
Be firm and be faithful; desert not the right;
The brave become bolder the darker the night.
Ten up and be doing, though cowards may fail;
Thy duty pursuing, dar all the prevail.
If scorn be thy portion, if hatred and loss,
If stripes or a prison, remember the cross.
God watches above thee, and He will requite;
Forsake those that love thee, but never the right.
For the rest of the tournament, I had the phrases ‘Be firm and be faithful; desert not the right; The brace become bolder the darker the night” keeping me going. As the day went on, it’s easy to feel more lethargic and tired, but to continue in our boldness to do well and express God, my knee pains went away.
Many of the hymns in the hymnal and supplements are music adaptions of Mrs. Eddy’s poems. We asked Eric to talk to us about which of Mrs. Eddy’s poems and hymns he’s been working with lately. Here’s what Eric told us:
“Passions, selfishness, false appetites, hatred, fear, all sensuality, yield to spirituality, and the superabundance of being is on the side of God, good. We cannot fill vessels already full… The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love.”
This passage from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy has been a good reminder many times. Sometimes in the middle of the night when I might not be feeling well or maybe concerned about some event coming up in the future, I find the poems written by Mary Baker Eddy to be helpful in extracting error from mortal mind and pouring in truth through flood-tides of Love. Here are some examples of how I might do this.
A few lines from Mother’s Evening Prayer have been a good reminder and comfort:
“O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour, …
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.”
Sometimes when reading the news and the temptation comes to get angry with what is going on I remember some lines from Mrs. Eddy’s poem, Love.
“Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing,
‘Neath which our spirits blend
Like brother birds, that soar and sing,
And on the same branch bend.
The arrow that doth wound the dove
Darts not from those who watch and love.
If thou the bending reed wouldst break
By thought or word unkind,
Pray that his spirit you partake,
Who loved and healed mankind:
Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain,
That make men one in love remain. …
Thou to whose power our hope we give,
Free us from human strife.
Fed by Thy love divine we live,
For Love alone is Life;
And life most sweet, as heart to heart
Speaks kindly when we meet and part”
Sometimes when fear seems to be almost overwhelming, Mrs. Eddy’s poem, Satisfied is just what I need to hear and know.
“It matters not what be thy lot,
So Love doth guide;
For storm or shine pure peace is thine,
Whate’er betide.
And of these stones, or tyrants’ thrones,
God able is
To raise u seed — in thought and deed —
To faithful His.
Aye, darkling sense, arise, go hence!
Our God is good.
False fears are foes — truth tatters those,
When understood.
Love looseth thee, and lifteth me,
Ayont hate’s thrall:
There Life is light, and wisdom might,
And God is All.
The centuries break, the earth-bound wake,
God’s glorified!
Who doth His will — His likeness still —
Is satisfied.”
Once fear has been silenced we continued to hear what the Christ is telling each one of us about what is real and true about God and God’s kingdom and we find peace and healing.
Written by Eric Oyama
The wonderful thing about Mrs. Eddy’s poems and hymns is their universal nature. Everyone has their favorite hymn, and sometimes music reaches us in a way that a quote may not. The hymns we hear every Sunday and Wednesday, along with the solo, can help to reflect and enhance the lesson for the week. How easy it is to turn to a calming and soothing melody to rest assure that God is right there beside you guiding you along.
What are some of your favorite hymns? What experiences have helped you to delve deeper into Mrs. Eddy’s poems for healing? Do you have a healing that has been in part to a certain hymn? We’d love to know! Send us an email of your hymn healing for a chance to be featured on the blog! Email your healings and uplifting thoughts to zoe@crystallakecamps.org
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