When singing the beloved hymns of the church we often sing the words without giving time or thought to the connection they lead us to make with God. Admittedly the second or often the third verse of the hymns are omitted in medleys. I acknowledge the depth of meaning of these often passed over verses and how they bring fresh light to the entirety of the hymn. This morning I stopped and reflected deeply on one such verse. The second verse of “How Great Thou Art.”
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
~How Great Thou Art, by Carl C. Boberg adapted by Stuart K. Hine
To have a fresh encounter with the diversity of the common, one only needs to walk a familiar road with a two-year-old. There are many words in the human language but one word in particular serves as the bridge between curiosity and knowledge. You know the word well: “why?’
Consider the complexity woods thru the eyes of such an interested heart and attempting to condense the variegated colors of green or the veins in a leaf into understandable language leaves one in awe of their Creator; both the child’s and the leaf’s. Take up the focus word ‘green’ and step into the nearby wood and see what wonders this forest glad offers. One quickly realizes the scope of language cannot contain or begin to explain the vast beauty and awe inspiring diversity of God’s creation. and we are reminded in the psalms that the heavens declare the glory of God. The psalmist penned it this way . . .
Psalm 19: 1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made! The vast universe was created in a series of days and then God spent a full day to fashion His most beloved and precious creation, you and I. The sheer miracle of our body and mind working in synchronicity testifies of the Great Designer and our Good Father. It shouts of the depth of His care and love He has for everything about and within you. It is no wonder that that author of the text to “How Great Thou Art” followed this verse with the rousing lines of praise - “Then sings my soul – my Savior, God to Thee – How great Thou Art!
Today will undoubtedly hold challenges and yet I pray that you can look up and remember - you are completely and utterly loved by God. In every way He is crazy about you!
Brother Morgan