Across the bog and standing stone
Across the bog and standing stone,
through mist that veils the hill,
a love moves deep—not ours alone —
that bids all dread be still.
The high cross guards the ancient ground
where saints once knelt to pray;
its circled arms, unbroken round,
have held our fear at bay.
Where gorse blooms gold on Burren grey
and curlews cry at dawn,
Love speaks the word that drives away
the dark we lean upon.
No torment lives where Love has come
to walk the pilgrim's road;
through rain-soaked glen and holy drum,
Love bears the heavy load.
As rivers carve through stone and peat
and find the waiting sea,
so perfect Love, both fierce and sweet,
casts out what frightens me.
The knotwork turns and has no end,
like mercy—old, yet new;
O fear, you have no dwelling here—
in Love alone we dwell.
Hymn information:
First line: Across the bog and standing stone
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: DCM
Tune: Kingsfold
Theme: 1 John 4:18. Thin Places
Reflection
Inspired by the Bible Gateway Verse of the Day —
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
1 John 4:18, Authorised Version.
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
This hymn sets that promise within the ancient landscape of Celtic faith. Across bog and standing stone, beneath mist-veiled hills and circling high crosses, it proclaims a Love both fierce and tender, older than fear and stronger than dread.
For the NeuroDivine community, this is more than poetry; it is assurance. Perfect Love does not erase our complexity—it meets us within it, steady as stone, flowing as river, casting out fear and calling us home.
Written recently and shared here as part of the NeuroDivine hymn collection.
Visio Divina
This hymn is accompanied by a visual meditation. To view the curated AI-generated image for this piece, visit its companion page at Received Light.
A printable A4 hymn sheet including this text is available on Patreon for those who may find it helpful in worship.
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