Walking is an activity that goes beyond movement or exercise.
We walk for many reasons. We might walk for the exercise, or to be in the fresh air, or to reach a destination, or to clear our heads, or to spend time with a friend (fur friends included).
Recently I left the house later in the evening, knowing that the long-stretching daylight would brighten my path … and, I hoped, my mood.
I walked, alongside the WonderDog, who seemed to know that my mood would not be compassionate to his frequent pulling. As I walked, I groaned.
Like tectonic plates under the Earth’s surface, a domino-like catastrophic event seemed to be rocking my world, and I wanted to respond in volcanic fashion. I was holding nothing back, and God was getting an earful of the really real me. I honestly do not even recall anything that I said, heard or smelled, until I reached a beautiful vista of the valley below my neighbourhood. It was then that my heart began to hear the still small voice, through the lyrics of an old hymn.
“This is my Father’s World” started reverberating in my thoughts out of nowhere.
I have had this sort of interruption often enough to know to listen to the message.
“This is my Father’s world …”
Not mine, His.
” … and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres …”
And I listened … to the birds, the insects.
” … I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought …”
What an amazing world we have in which to live.
” … the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise …”
All of creation shouting out praises to the Creator.
” … 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 everywhere …”
Yes he does, for he interrupted my groaning with reminders that his creation is made to praise him.
” … this is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er 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! “
God, our father and the maker of heaven and Earth, is in control.
I looked out over the valley below, looked at the colours of the setting sun painted across the sky, smelled the scent of flowers on a nearby bush, heard the crickets, the birds, the panting of the WonderDog at my side. All of creation singing their praises to the Creator.
That night I was reminded that he is in control, and that we still need, and are able to praise him, though no Earthly solutions are within our view.
itsawonderfilledlife 