Why do we sing? Sometimes it expresses our dreams, our aspirations or our woes. I often turn to music when I am down. I am aware that this Thanksgiving many will be grieving the loss of loved ones who died too soon from Covid. Others will look at the “feast” and realize it is not like memories of childhood and is limited by financial squeezing in our economy. Others will not gathered with loved ones because of “spacing.” Environmental upturn is affecting others. Hopefully most will gather and enjoy the gift of now. I chose a hymn this morning that is sung at Thanksgiving that is a bit more neutral in its wording but which affirms the beauty that we see in spite of our troubles. The sun rises and sets. Nature even in its rough times is beautiful. Not all love us but we have our “peeps.” The Church with all its warts and faults is still a place of community and seeks to serve the world. And we know some day justice will be restored by a God who cares and walks with us.
Folliot Sandford Pierpont, author of the hymn is said to have been inspired walking around the fields near his hometown in Bath, England, about1855ish. When the pressures of Thanksgiving and the approaching Christmas season seems to loom large, going for a walk in nature, breathing in fresh air, and perhaps listening to a song often raises our spirits. Thank you, Lord, for those gifts!
“For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.”
On the Way to Wonder 