WORSHIP

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.

Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.

-For the Beauty of the Earth ELW 879

 

                I have always found myself humming something or other as I go about my day. Usually, it’s a scrap of some folksy acoustic song or maybe something from my favorite Christian artists. This time of year, as I look out on the explosion of color along the bluffs and hills I cannot help but think of this song in a quiet joyful prayer.

                I caught myself doing it this past weekend and I realized it was more than a frivolous diversion. It was good for my soul. There is so much going on personally, professionally, out in the world, things and people that command and demand our attention. We can and should pay attention to these things, our lives, our communities and our world are better for our engagement. Yet, if we are not careful this becomes and idol onto itself under the catch all category of “busyness”. It is a busyness that fills our calendars but empty our hearts.

                It’s important to remember that sabbath is more than church attendance, it’s more than a “should”. It is a “get to”. It is a gift. It is God’s invitation to revel in the wonder of all that God has made. To find ourselves in the midst of something we are both connected to and so much larger than ourselves. The holidays are fast approaching and we would do well to remember that blank spaces on our calendars, whether by accident or intentionally carved out are to be sought after. Whether to gaze out on the landscape, to hum or sing, to quietly pray, to write something or to simply think long thoughts, these windows of sabbath are good for our soul. It is good to raise a hymn of grateful praise.

 

As Ever in Christ,

Pastor CJ