#BU24’s unique class hymn offers timely reassurance of God’s goodness
While it’s common for incoming freshmen to be welcomed to college by campus leaders, it’s not so common for that encouragement to come in the form of a hymn — but that’s what we do at Baylor.
Since 2008, each incoming class has been welcomed with its own unique hymn, written and composed by Baylor University Chaplain Burt Burleson, BA ’80, and Associate Chaplain Ryan Richardson, MDiv ’04. Each hymn captures an aspect of this moment of excitement, possibility and transition in a student’s life.
This year’s hymn, “In This Life of Mine,” speaks to the insecurity understandably created by the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the Class of 2024, from the conclusion of their senior year of high school on through this fall and their introduction to college. The chorus offers reassurance, directly from Psalm 23: “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days, and I will dwell in God forever.”
The hymn was performed during the first hour of Orientation, so that students immediately could share a common message and song. The recording below comes from the Welcome Week worship service:
Complete lyrics to this year’s hymn:
In this life of mine as we seek and find
The choice to make, the path to take
In this life of mine.
In this life I pray, light a sacred way
You’ll have this heart, Your work of art
In this life I pray.
And surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
And I will dwell in God forever.
In this journey deep, living truths will meet…
The good compelled, the wisdom held…
In this journey deep.
In this journey known, hidden mercies shown…
A line of grace, through this life trace…
In this journey known.
And surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
And I will dwell in God forever.
In this blessed time, bind the soul and mind…
The gifts to hold, as calls unfold…
In this blessed time.
In this blessed now, each new step endows
The world awaits what love creates…
In this blessed now.
And surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
And I will dwell in God forever.
Sic ’em, Baylor Spiritual Life!