January 09, 2005
This is My Fathers World
Dawn Entry at Kalapana Photo HVO...Lava pouring into the seas creating new land and new challenges for the enviroment around the entry. As the lava enters the water the resulting steam is filled with sulphur dioxide and laced with volcanic glass particles. This toxic cloud rises and is swept by the trade winds over the southern portions of the Big Island and in known as VOG. This air pollution is much like acid rain and is destructive to plants and animal life and is a constant threat to those of us with breathing problems. It is our daily "Natural Disaster" here on the Big Island.
This is My Father's World
This is my Fathers 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 Makers 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.
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:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King;
let the heavens ring!
God reigns;
let the earth be glad!
This is my Father's world,
dreaming,
I see His face.
I ope my eyes,
and in glad surprise cry,
The Lord is in this place.
This is my Father's world,
from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One,
His Only Son,
Came-a pledge of deathless love.
This is my Father's world,
should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King
let the heavens ring.
God reigns
let the earth be glad.
This is my Father's world.
Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God
is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.
This is my Father's world.
I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze
to my wondering gaze
God makes His glory known.
This is my Father's world,
a wanderer I may roam
What e'er my lot,
it matters not,
My heart is still at home.
Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901
In these days where we see the incredible distructive forces of nature, we need to remember that God is in control. This is His way that He shapes His world. Not that He doesnt care about the humans in the path of natural disaster...He does to be sure. The Bible says that God saw the Earth that He created and said that it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)that includes not only the earth but all that was created including humans and their needs, as well as the earth and all of the forces within the earth that are needed to maintain its integrity. God made it and He will manage it according to His will. We can be assured that all will be very good in His Time.
