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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Checking in from Boiling Springs!

This week, I am beyond blessed to attend the Charlotte Mason Institute annual conference in Boiling Springs, NC. I have been coming to this conference for 6 or 7 years now, and I love it. All my favorite people are here, and I leave here every year challenged, refreshed and encouraged for a new school year. I would like to share some of this soul-refreshment with you tonight.

Tonight at the plenary talk, we read our conference poem by Emily Dickinson entitled "He Ate and Drank the Precious Words:

He ate and drank the precious words—
His spirit grew robust—
He knew no more that he was poor;
Nor that his Frame was dust.

He danced along the dingy Days
And this Bequest of Wings
Was but a Book— What Liberty
A loosened spirit brings—

Then we sang our conference hymn - "Be Thou My Vision," a traditional Irish hymn translated into English by Eleanor Hull in 1912. Click here for a printable PDF of the music; here for a YouTube video.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

It's getting late, and I need to get some sleep, but I wanted to share this quote with you that was shared with us tonight. It adds another layer to some things I've been pondering lately and hope to share with you soon.


5 comments:

  1. Hi, sounds like a great educational conference. I hopped over to the website to learn more. thanks for sharing.

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  2. My husband wanted to take me to a CM conference this year and I think I looked at this one but was unable to make a decision so we haven't gone anywhere. I'm glad to hear your take on the conference.

    Elisabeth
    http://treasuringthemoments.net

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  3. Elisabeth, I'm so sorry you couldn't make it to the CMI conference this year! Please keep it in mind for next year. I'm not sure where you're located, but there are a few other CM events that might be closer to you. Check out www.charlottemasoninstitute.org for more information on Charlotte Mason in the Bluegrass and the Living Education Retreat!

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  4. Anonymous6:58 AM

    I'm in Arizona.

    Just wondering if there is a way you can change the "Choose an Identity" when leaving a comment. My Google Acct. is out of date so I really don't like to use that and I never can seem to figure out Open ID. :)

    Elisabeth
    http://treasuringthemoments.net

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  5. Honestly, I don't have a clue about changing your identity for commenting. :-) It looks like you can choose your WP account if you use that, with the drop down menu?

    I don't know of any CM gatherings out your way but keep an eye on the CMI blog. They will know! Also, I have a friend who's compiling a list of groups as she learns about them. There's nothing in AZ yet, but it would be good to keep an eye out!

    http://www.charlottemasonincommunity.com/find-a-cm-community.html

    ReplyDelete