Chanting forests and singing rivers, reds, greens, golds, and oranges tumble me and teach me.
All your works with joy surround you, earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain, teach us what our praise should be.
In our New Century Hymnal, these words fashion the fourth verse of Hymn to Joy. The music written long ago by Beethoven, the lyrics adapted from those written by Henry Van Dyke. This time of year, I find myself singing it, letting “field and forest” and all creation teach me what praise is; what “thank you” looks, sounds, and smells like. Truly, we are blessed to live in Cook County, Minnesota, where everywhere we turn, creation is teaching and telling stories that help us live in gratitude and grace.
Earlier this month, a bear spoke to me and my companion from out of the woods along the trail. It huffed and growled, encouraging us to talk and laugh and move on quickly. Sometimes I see them, mostly from a distance, rejoicing in their fluid grace, their boundless energy.
Glimpses of wolves, foxes, moose, pileated woodpeckers, ravens, seagulls, soaring eagles and feeding chickadees, some so much more shy than other, all make my heart sing. From otters to pine marten, owls to lynx, we have so much to learn and give thanks for.
When I walk among stately white pines and fragrant cedars, watching fire open jack pine cones, and tamaracks going from feathery green to gentle orange, I am reminded of God’s love and care for all creation.
“‘Inside work’ can wait until winter,” words spoken by our country school teacher during the wondrous days of autumn. As the prairie took on the golden glow under the bluest sky, we would play kick ball for hours, only stopping when it was time to go home. It is a lesson I have never forgotten.
Math, reading, science, and all those books matter, but without the teaching of the earth, they become empty. And so I take time to “join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began,” take time to listen to “field and forest, vale and mountain…” I let the “flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain” teach me gratitude and grace. “Thank you” is the prayer that always makes my heart sing.
“Thank you” is the lesson I am always happy to learn.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Beth Benson of the First Congregational Church – UCC in Grand Marais.
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