For the Beauty of the Earth

By Pastor Mark Woodward

Maple Leaf Parish Churches: Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston

(and Lenora)

A few nights ago I was out in the yard transplanting some flowers that I had rescued from a construction site.  I like digging in the soil.  I like planting in the cool, rich, moist dirt.  As I planted the wild lilies, I got to thinking about the beauty and wonder of life itself.

Our God is an awesome Creator.  I tamped and  packed the dirt around each plant and soaked them with water.  I then gathered up my tools – shovel, wheelbarrow and put them away in the shed.  The sun was beginning to set in the west.

I washed my hands in the hose and sat at the picnic table and watched as a glorious sunset began to appear.  Again, our God is an awesome Creator.  I got to thinking about one of my favorite Christian hymns written by Folliott S. Pierpoint in 1864:  “For the Beauty of the Earth.”  This Christian hymn writer expressed the glory of God in this inspiring song… “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.”  (p. 92 of the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal) 

I sat at the picnic table and watched the glorious patterns of light and clouds as the sun moved closer to the horizon.  There was a quiet in the air, a calmness at the end of the day.  I sat at the table giving thanks for the blessings of the day.  As the sent forth rays of light and glory across the sky, a mother deer and her fawn scampered in the tall grass… and the words of the song played in my mind: “For the beauty  of  of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, tree sand flower, sun and moon and stars of light;  Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.” 

The light was fading quickly and this glorious sunset was filling the sky.  A gentle breeze was blowing and the evening air was cool and pleasant.  Another day was drawing to a close.  As I sat, I pondered the richness of God’s love given to us in Jesus Christ and the words of Pierpoint’s hymn continued in my mind… “For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and light… For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild… For thy church, that evermore lifteth hold hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love… For thyself best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given, for that greet, great love of thine, peace on earth and joy in heaven… Lord of all to thee we raise this  our hymn of grateful for praise.”

It had been a glorious  day.  I planted my lilies and hoped they would grow.  As sun went below the horizon in the west, I ended my day giving praise and  thanksgiving to God in Jesus Christ and I prayed a silent prayer for peace in the world… for the beauty of the earth…