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The article referred to reflects particularly the last two lines of verse 4
Give Thanks to God for Human Brains,
(8.7.8.7 D) Suggested tune ‘Harvest Hymn’/ ‘Golden Sheaves’: ‘To Thee. O Lord, Our Hearts we Raise’) (Durham 3)
(8.7.8.7 D) Suggested tune ‘Harvest Hymn’/ ‘Golden Sheaves’: ‘To Thee. O Lord, Our Hearts we Raise’) (Durham 3)
Give thanks to God for human brains,
Great gift of evolution,
Enabling us to find our ways
From problems to solutions.
Our brains let us communicate,
To think through fact or story,
Control our senses, move our limbs,
And comprehend God’s glory.
Give thanks to God for children’s brains
Which wonderfully develop;
First forming in their mothers’ wombs,
expanding as they grow up:
This pattern builds a vital base,
With myriad brain cells forming.
And in this phase, parental love
a child’s self-worth is forging.
Give thanks for youth with agile brains
who can bring new perceptions,
As neurons and synapses fire,
Suggesting fresh directions,
from those which were established by
their former generations,
and help society make sense
of rapid innovation.
Give thanks to God for brains mature
Which cope with complex matters,
In every human path of life,
that need considered answers:
they draw on information that
their full-grown brains can process
through electronic signalling
And chemical responses.
Give thanks to God that much research
Is focused on the ageing,
Whose brains can lose ability
As links and cells are failing.
With neuroscience opening up
Much greater comprehension,
Maybe dementia’s sadnesses
Will soon be overtaken.
This is another hymn that stems from my term at St John’s College as a Visiting Fellow at the invitation of the Principal, Prof. David Wilkinson, astrophysicist, theologian and broadcaster.
This time enabled me to speak with scientists on their own subjects and frame some hymns and songs with the benefit of having one of the University staff cast their eye over my writing. For this particular hymn, I am indebted to Prof. Amanda Ellison in the Psychology Dept at the University for looking at the stages of the brain I selected to express thanksgiving, awe and wonder at the nature and development of the human brain.
