“This is My Father’s World”

Hummingbird moth (Mendocino53 at Pixabay)

A Surprise in My Father’s World

Several evenings ago, I sat on my porch in one of those ambiguous moments we call twilight. It was such a lovely, cool, quiet evening and I really didn’t want to go inside, even though the mosquitoes were beginning to appear.

Then, a movement in the petunias caught my attention–movement, and a humming sound. I had seen it before a couple of times, but not often: hummingbird moth! Fascinated, I watched it move amidst the flowers, then out into the evening. 

It returned and I ran for my phone to take a picture. Impossible. She was too fast for me. So I just watched her until she left again and it became evident that she would not return. Perhaps tomorrow? 

My Father’s World: in a Song

At that moment, words of a song came into my head. They were words I had learned as a child:

“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.”

Author: Maltbie D. Babcock

”Maltbie D. Babcock (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858; d. Naples, Italy, 1901) graduated from Syracuse University, New York, and Auburn Theological Seminary (now associated with Union Theological Seminary in New York) and became a Presbyterian minister. He served the Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. In Baltimore he was especially popular with students from Johns Hopkins University, but he ministered to people from all walks of life.” Babcock penned the words above for the hymn “This is My Father’s World.” I think Mr. Babcock must have spent a lot of summer evenings outside, and much more time than just that.

There have been many moments that I can recall, when my Father’s world was just too miraculous for words.

Creatures in His World

One morning I was driving to work, and there was a rather thick fog along my route. It was the kind of fog that one can actually see as it moves through the air. I glanced to the left just in time to see a buck with a huge rack walk proudly through the curtain of fog and pause in a field near a split-rail fence near the road. It was so majestic! I mean, it was Disney-esque! To this day, that picture remains so clear in my mind.

There is a large dead tree, also on my path to work. Often in that tree, a large, pale hawk sits watching the sunrise. I call out a good-morning to him, foolish as that may be, and when he’s not there, I miss him.

Miracles in the Sky

After church one Sunday afternoon, my husband and I went to Lowes to pick up some garden supplies. I looked up at the sky, and around the sun, there was a huge, completely round, “rainbow.” It was so fascinating! When we came out of the store, it was still there. 

Back home, I looked it up and found out it was a sun halo,–“any of a wide range of atmospheric optical phenomena that result when the Sun or Moon shines through thin clouds composed of ice crystals. These phenomena may be due to the refraction of light that passes through the crystals, or the reflection of light from crystal faces, or a combination of both effects. Refraction effects give rise to color separation because of the slightly different bending of the different colors composing the incident light as it passes through the crystals. On the other hand, reflection phenomena are whitish in color, because the incident light is not broken up into its component colors, each wavelength being reflected at the same angle.”

Those Special Surprises in My Father’s World

I am so thrilled and excited when moments like these happen: flowers, shooting stars, thunderstorms, rainbows, “the music of the spheres.” They are completely random and totally out of my control. Perhaps that’s what makes them so precious. I am reminded to never take this beautiful earth for granted. God, in all His splendid, creative power has given us a plethora of gifts and miracles to experience. We need only be aware of our surroundings! It makes me all the more delighted as I anticipate heaven.  

Sing Along With Me!

“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, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Was giv’n to show God’s love.
This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

“This is my Father’s world. O 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.

By the way, I still chase sunsets!

God bless you, and may you be ever aware of His miraculous creation!