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THIS IS MY
FATHER’S WORLD
This is my
Father’s world, and to my list’ning ears
all nature sings,
and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my
Father’s world; I rest me in the thought
of rocks and
trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought.
This is my
Father’s world; the birds their carols raise;
the morning
light, the lily white, declare their maker’s praise.
This is my
Father’s world; he shines in all that’s fair.
In the rustling
grass I hear him pass; he speaks to me ev’rywhere.
This is my
Father’s world; oh, let me not forget
that, though the
wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my
Father’s world; why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king,
let the heavens ring; God reigns, let the earth be glad!
Text: Maltbie D.
Babcock, 1858-1901
These lyrics give
praise to the beauty of God’s creation. How truly blessed we are
to be stewards of his earthly kingdom.
Early every
morning our Alaskan Malamute, Pasha Bear, and I go for a walk. We
both look forward to our stroll. For Pasha Bear, it’s a time to do
the things doggies doo. For me, it’s a time to reconnect with God
and take in the beauty of his creation. Pasha Bear and I return
home each morning refreshed as we take on a new day.
This hymn also
speaks to me about whether we, as God’s people, are good stewards
of his creation. What about climate change and global warming?
Just take a look around.
Scientists
recently warned that carbon dioxide is building up in the
atmosphere 35 percent faster than previously reported. The Arctic
ice is melting, and glaciers are receding at an alarming rate.
Last summer, the southeastern part of the United States was
running out of water because of a record drought. In Kansas,
controversy exists about whether two coal-fired plants should be
built at the expense of further hurting our environment and at the
risk of causing greater public health and safety concerns.
Clearly, our environment is becoming more polluted as our natural
resources continue to dwindle.
God must be
disappointed. We have not been good stewards. The Lenten season is
a time for self-examination. May we, as God’s children, learn to
become more concerned about being good stewards of his beautiful
world.
Thank you, God,
for the beauty of your creation. We pray we can become a changed
people so that we can truly give praise to the hymn, “This Is My
Father’s World.”
Larry Ehrlich |
