Christ, the Path of ancient blessing

Christ, the Path of ancient blessing,
Christ, the Light within the haze,
Philip sought the Father’s presence,
James walked on through shadowed days.
By the well‑spring of Your mercy,
By the stone where saints have prayed,
Guide our feet on holy pathways,
Where Your quiet grace is laid.

2
Round us flows the circling Spirit,
Like the wild geese on the wing;
In the whisper of the heather
We can hear Your praises ring.
As You shaped Your friends in friendship,
Shape our hearts to love and stand;
Mark us with the cross of courage,
Carved like ogham on the land.

3
Christ of thresholds, Christ of mornings,
Christ who walks the pilgrim shore,
Philip’s longing, James’s steadfast
Call us deeper evermore.
In the mist upon the mountains,
In the firelight’s gentle glow,
You reveal the hidden Father
On the roads we daily go.

4
Keep us faithful, Christ our centre,
When the night grows still and long;
Let the saints who trod before us
Circle us with steady song.
Till the final dusk is falling
And the last bright stars arise,
Lead us homeward through the silence,
To the Heart that never dies.

Hymn information

First line: Christ, the Path of ancient blessing
Text: Michael McFarland Campbell
Metre: 87 87 D
Tune:
Theme: SS Philip & James.

Reflection

“Christ, the Light within the haze…”

For many neurodivergent people, the world can often feel like a “haze”—a sensory overload of bright lights, loud sounds, or the exhausting effort of “masking” to fit into social expectations. In this hymn, we don’t find a Christ who removes the haze, but one who stands within it.

The Gift of the “Longing” (Philip)

St Philip’s plea, “Lord, show us the Father,” is the ultimate neurodivergent question. It is an honest, direct request for clarity. When the world feels ambiguous or social cues are hidden, we, like Philip, seek the “hidden Father” behind the veil. We value truth over social niceties. This “longing” isn’t a lack of faith; it is a deep, specialized focus on finding the core of who God is.

The Strength of the “Steadfast” (James)

St James reminds us of the “shadowed days”—the times of burnout, executive dysfunction, or feeling sidelined. Yet, the hymn calls this a “holy pathway.” The persistence required for a neurodivergent person to navigate a world not built for them is a form of “ogham courage.” It is a quiet, carved-in-stone resilience that the Church needs to witness.

The “Circling Spirit” and Sensory Grace

We hear God in the “whisper of the heather.” This is a celebration of the neurodivergent sensory experience. Where others see a field, some of us see every petal, hear every vibration, and feel the “circling Spirit” in the patterns of nature. Our “intense interests” and deep sensitivities are not distractions; they are “wild geese” leading us toward the Divine.

A Threshold Community

The Church of Ireland on May 1st stands at a “threshold.” As a NeuroDivine community, we inhabit that threshold. We bridge the gap between the “ordered” world and the “wild” beauty of a mind that works differently.

May we find Christ in the “firelight’s gentle glow”—a place of warmth, safety, and sensory peace—and know that our unique “cross of courage” is a vital part of the Church’s song.

Copyright

© Michael McFarland Campbell. 2026. 
Permission granted for local church or parish use with attribution. Not for commercial reproduction.

Written recently and shared here as part of the NeuroDivine hymn collection.

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