Dwelling in Beulah Land

Sometime in my childhood, I heard an old gospel song called "Dwelling in Beulah Land."

I remember the chorus and first verse still, but have never been able to find the song in any hymnal I have ever come across. Well! I found it yesterday in a book called "Rise Up Singing" which is a collection of the words of all kinds of songs for group singing. I have it here and often play from it on my keyboard. I was delighted to come across this old favorite, and I want to write the words of the song for you, because they describe how I feel being out here in this gorgeous place. The song is also a metaphor, as so many gospel songs are, for a state of soul, or "consciousness" as we might say these days. I chose some choice pics from my collection which to me capture some of what the words of this Gospel song are saying.

DWELLLING IN BEULAH LAND

Far away the noise of strife upon my ear is falling,

Then I know the sins of man beset on every hand.

Doubt and fear and greed and lies in vain to me are calling,

None of these shall move me from Beulah Land.

Chorus:

I'm living on the mountain underneath a cloudless sky.

I'm drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry

O yes I'm feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply

For I am dwelling in Beulah land.

Verse

Let the story breezes blow, their blast cannot alarm me,

I am safely sheltered here, protected by God's hand.

Here the sun is always shining, here there's naught can harm me.

I am safe forever in Beulah land! (repeat chorus)

Verse

Viewing here the works of God, I sink in contemplation

Hearing now Her blessed voice, I see the way She planned.

Dwelling in the Spirit, here I learn of God's great Vision,

Gladly will I tarry in Beulah Land. (chorus)

okay. I did edit the words a tiny bit! But you get the picture!

Being out here for me does feel like Beulah land, literally.

And living in such a place of Beauty does help me dwell in "Beulah Land" consciousness.

Beauty is, for me, the Face of God, and here that Face shines in particular splendor.

However, even here, I am not always free from doubt or fear or other attitudes that make it hard to dwell in Beulah Land Consciousness. I can echo the words of this old hymn for hours, sometimes even days, but I am not yet always dwelling in Beulah Land, and I wonder if I ever will on this earth, given life's ups and downs and my state of spiritual evolvement.

But I am grateful for the glimpses, the moments, the hours of dwelling in Beulah Land, and I hope that all of you who read this blog also experience the bliss, at least at times, of dwelling in Beulah land, no matter where you live. And someday, I believe, we will all dwell always and forever in Beulah Land!