Creation Care Mom

Before I get to my main content, I want to share some of the things I’ve been reading recently.

This week Katherine Hayhoe’s newsletter covers historic churches transitioning to solar energy and heat pumps, the economic costs of climate change, and the impact of native plants in your front yard!

Rev. Ben Cremer’s message in his newsletter this week is incredibly relevant in the light of all the political turmoil from June and July. It challenges us to think deeply about our Lord as messiah servant instead of messiah king. How should we respond as people use Christ’s name in pursuit of power.

I have subscribed to Heatmap. They focus specifically on climate news. Every weekday I receive the Heatmap Daily which has the top 5 news snippets from the day before. If you are doubting, or struggling to see, how climate change is affecting our day to day life, this is a great newsletter for you. For a paid subscription, you can access all of their longer reporting as well, but I’ve been happy with their free coverage!

On to my regular content.

If you haven’t heard this hymn before, I encourage you to go listen to it on YouTube before continuing.

The lyrics for this hymn were originally a poem written by Maltbie Babcock, New York Presbyterian minister, around 1900. It was supposedly inspired by his regular walks outdoors along the Niagara escarpment including views of Lake Ontario and upstate New York. After his death, a friend, Franklin Sheppard, put it to music.

I have a particular affection for this song even though I don’t remember when I first heard it. If I had to choose a single song to explain how I relate to God, it would be this one. I’ve found myself humming this tune out on a hike, or sitting at the base of a waterfall, or watching the cardinals flutter through the neighborhood. When living in a city starts dragging me down, with all its man made structures of concrete and asphalt, plugging in my headphones and listening to this song calms my soul. For the world is the Lord’s and nature is constantly showing us his wonder and power. What we see in creation should drive us to praise him all the more. Because it is his, I want to protect it. These lyrics form one aspect of my creation care roots.

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening 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.

The last verse is a little different. Obviously, it was written out of lived experience. His first-born son passed as an infant and so I imagine these words brought him comfort and gave him phrases to lean on when times were hard. In the midst of current worldwide circumstances, these words can be pillars of support for us as well.

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.

How does this song speak to you? Does it connect to any personal memories? After reflecting on this song, do you find yourself more or less inclined to protect the natural world?