This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.

The old hymn first sings of a common grace, what we call general revelation.  The created order gives witness to its creator.  With eyes to see and ears to hear, the human creature, above all others, is made to know its Creator.  The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Romans 1 when he speaks of all humanity: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

In the midst of lockdown, grieving, pain, and sorrow, this spring has been, remarkably so, a common grace spring. All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres.

One of the small joys of this difficult time is that I walk to and from the church as often as I am able. I have no midday meetings at some distant place to attend or emergency hospital calls to make.  I might as well walk.

And walking, especially in the morning –  our development to Maple Avenue, to Bellevue to LPC, an even mile – is a time to take in the daily concert nature sings.

This past Wednesday, earlier than other mornings because of Men’s Zoom Bible Study, the performance was particularly fine.  The sad reality is that ambient noise is much less these days of lockdown. Fewer commuters on the roads, no school buses.  But our human racket reduced, the birds take center stage and offer their songs of praise.  Wednesday’s performance was delightful, every voice in tune, every measure precisely sung.

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.

But the old hymn looks to something beyond nature, still more excellent than the message the carols raised by the early morning choir.

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.

The Gospel tells the story not only of the Creator’s love of beauty, but sings a song of love unknown, the Savior’s love to me – love for the loveless shown.

Even in pandemic, even in lockdown, even in times of pain and frustration, patience and tempers lost, God is the ruler yet.  Nothing has changed. Jesus who died shall be satisfied and earth and heaven be one.

And why not get out early one of these mornings. The concert is offered daily.And it s free.