What do you see? I have the incredible opportunity this week to do some exploring in my home state, Colorado and it’s wholly astounding. The beauty in my state is both massively grandiose and minutely gorgeous. I am seeing glorious wildflowers dancing in a gentle breeze arrayed in a cacophony of color. Along with these delicate beauties, I’m seeing rugged and jagged mountains, austere mammoths of weather worn strength. In between the colorful wildflowers and the majestic mountains, there is also the mid-range pastures (dotted with various trees), soaring hawks, flitting sparrows and sundry birds.
In seeing all of this, I find myself continuously awestruck at the endless creativity our Heavenly Father displays, no matter what time of year, season of life, world events or national elections. I find it both soothing and helpful to remember that, “This is my Father’s world,” and I’m wise to pay attention to my focal point. I say this because so often I find myself focusing on things that are stressful, uncertain, problematic and sometimes intense. Many times, I feel like I have to solve problems and have answers for difficult questions and maybe even predict the future. All of this can impact my vision – where I look and what on what I choose to focus.
As I get to explore beautiful Colorado, I’m reminded that God is able to handle the small things and stuff that requires granular focus. At the same time, God made the mountains in all their timeless grandeur and God can handle things that far exceed my human limitations, along with challenges that might seem bigger than mountains. Furthermore, God looks after the midrange issues, which are larger than the small details, but not as massive as mountains. As I think about all of this, I’m encouraged to keep my vision on our loving, kind and all-powerful and all knowing Heavenly Father.
As you think about the question, “What do you see?”, consider letting the words to this incredible hymn sink into your soul. Here are the lyrics to “This is my Father’s world.”
- This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought. - This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere. - This is my Father’s world:
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.
(This Is My Father’s World by Maltbie D Babcock, 1901)
In reflecting on this beautiful hymn, let’s remember to keep our eyes on our magnificent and loving Creator, our heart aligned with our all-knowing and all-powerful Heavenly Father!
