By Pastor Mark Woodward
Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora)
Recently, public broadcasting has presented an insightful documentary on the life of Henry David Thoreau. Produced by Ken Burns and Don Henley, the program offers an informative picture of Thoreau as an author, naturalist and American philosopher. I have long been intrigued by Thoreau’s ideas expressed in his classic book “Walden.” Early in his life, Henry Thoreau spent a couple of years living in the woods experiencing the beauty and wonder of the wilderness and learning the fine art of simple living.
Because of authors like Thoreau, Aldo Leopold and Sigurd Olson, I have gained great appreciation for wilderness, the natural world and being a good steward of God’s good gifts. I have gone on several canoe trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and have profound respect and love for this inspiring natural wilderness. Lakes Saganaga and Seagull and the surrounding territory have given me great appreciation for the beauty and wonder of God’s creation.
Here at home in Fillmore County, I love walking in the woods and experiencing the splendor of nature. The fauna and flora speak to my heart. Deer, rabbits, turkeys, squirrels, raccoons, and skunks, too, are fascinating to watch. The flowers, trees, meadows, rivers, ponds all speak to me and lift my spirits. I love to walk in the woods and let the glory of nature speak to me …
One day I went for a walk in the woods and brought with me a hymn book. I found an old log and sat down on it. The wind was blowing gently in the trees and the sunshine felt warm and pleasant. It was a gentle and peaceful day and it felt good to be surrounded in the presence of God’s natural world.
As I sat on the log, sunshine streaming as the trees danced in the breeze, I read the following words in my hymnbook:
“Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, thee will I cherish, thee I will honor, thou my soul’s glory, joy and crown. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands, robed in the blooming garb of spring: Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, who makes the woeful heart to sing. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.”
(Fairest Lord Jesus, by Munster Gesangbuch 1677; translated by Joseph August Seiss, 1873. p. 189 The 1989 United Methodist Hymnal.)
I sat there for a while soaking in the beauty and wonder of the day and I felt renewed, uplifted and filled with a sense of joy. I invite you to do the same. Take some time each day to enjoy and appreciate the beauty and wonder of God’s creation and give thanks for God’s unending love in Jesus Christ!
God’s blessings always.
Your friend,
Pastor Mark Woodward
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