These limbs tell stories.

These limbs tell stories. Stems from the text of a hymn, "Take My Life and Let it Be,” that is used for the material of the work. Rather than using a hymn as a beautiful homage to beliefs held, or as positive nostalgia for the shooting pain a hard and angular pew caused me as a child, this hymn is used to sculpt a character from my own personal experience. The hymn is about ones’ devotion to their interpretation of a Christian God, all the bits of themselves relinquished to this supposedly omnibenevolent transcendental being. With each stanza, the text becomes more fanatical and dehumanizing, giving even the mind and thought to fully delouse themselves of any impurities in their belief. Suffice it to say, I do not find this particularly poetic or moving, as many would. This blind enslavement to a belief system is what causes supremacy, hatred, bigotry, violence, and murder. This piece is highly personal, as I had what I thought to be a friend, choose bigotry over humanity in much this way. 

Hymn Lyrics

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing, Always, only for my King. Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.

Frances R. Havergal