“Shepherd me, O Lord, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.”
Thus begins one of my favorite hymns at my parish. And the line “beyond my wants” is particularly striking for me. I think that the lyricist was probably referring to “wants” as we might use the term in the phrase “a person in want of a good meal”. This has an implication of a real need. However, for me I take the word ”want” in a different way.
All my needs have been more than amply met by my Lord through my dear husband and others. On the other hand, I have a long list of wants and plans that may or may not be in the Lord’s plans for me. In the movie “Bella”, there is a line to the effect that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Boy, did I get a good laugh out of that!!!
I find the hymn to be a good reminder to temper my plans remembering always that God is in control, shepherding me past my wants and my fears. And I thank God that he is in control. If I held the remote control for my life, what a mess it would be!!!
Great comment! The hymn poped into my mind tonight and gave me similar thoughts as yours…being that God will supply for my true wants and needs in full…over and beyond my more selfish desires (power, popularity, noteriety, fame, pleasure) God Bless you and your family!
I just “googled” these lyrics hoping to find the rest of the verses. The song struck me in a similar way…I’m struggling with being severely obese and am making some progress at dieting. I think of my cravings as “wants” and God is shepherding me in this diet to get off the path to death and onto to a path to life. It was nice to find your site. Thanks
Thank you for sharing this beautiful hymm and how it ministered to your family.
I just googled these lyrics because this hymn has been going through my mind today. Indeed it is a reminder that God is in control. Peace and all good.
Thanks for sharing…
Praise GOD for HE has bountifully blessed you and your family. I learnt this song from my choir leader last evening and we sang in yesterday’s mass as well as this morning mass at St. Anthony’s Church (Bangalore, India). The song touched my heart so much that i wanted to hear it over again today and searched through google that landed me here and I thank our Lord for it.
GOD has been so gracious to me and my family too that we truly lack no good thing in our lives. May this stand as a testimony to HIS love and goodness.
Talking about the wants, i’m reminded of a funny incident that happened in recent past. I “wanted” a car, so I could listen to gospel hymns on my way to office (using the car’s music system) . Guess what? My brother gifted me an an iPOD and I started to listen to His praise on the way while riding my motorcycle
But the story doesn’t end there, as after a year’s time, HE did bless me with a new job and then a car too.
HE makes everything wonderful in HIS time isn’t it?
May the Good Lord bless you and your family and keep you in HIS love.
I,too, had googled these lyrics this morning because I find this hymn “playing” in my head at odd times during the day. I first heard this beautiful hymn at a funeral mass held for a friend of my husband who had committed suicide. This hymn was sung during communion and I found myself moved to the point of tears every time I heard the refrain “beyond my wants, beyond my fears.” If only we could get past our all too human “wants” which all too often get in the way of what we really need. Thank you for sharing this hymn.
And I googled these lyrics as well today.
I have heard this beautiful hymn many times in church but never fully considered its meaning until it was chosen for my father’s funeral mass.
I get it now, and how gorgeous it truly is. I dont know if I will ever be able to listen to it again without tears of sorrow and joy.
Such a beautiful family.
This beautiful, powerful hymn. I asked for it to be sung at my mother’s funeral this past February. Mom died just 5 days before Valentine’s day and 8 days before her 94th birthday. The words were sweet comfort to me and so appropriate. Thank you for your site and for the reminder. Katherine, I share your feelings exactly. Interestingly enough, I did not read your post until I had already written mine and was just about to hit “Submit”. (Like me to do things backwards LOL!)
….and
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”
Please God, be with us all.