Here is the convoluted path that I took to the subject of today. Sometimes there is no telling when you start out of where you will end, and so here is my journey so far.
Beginning before 6 this morning, I read the two sections of Scripture for today, and I also read the Moravian readings for today. In that latter text was included a verse from the hymn by Henry van Dyke, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, written in 1907 and published in 1911, whose music score was taken from Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
I thought about this music as I walked in the early dawn's light. The morning was clear, quiet and beautiful and the words of that hymn verse that I had read earlier came back to mind:
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
It was indeed a glorious morning, and a joyful walk.
When I got back to the condo, I looked up the hymn and the story behind it. These words of van Dyke were included in the article:
"These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time—hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope."
The mention of truth struck me. What discoveries or theories of science might have been on his mind when he wrote that? Then the thought, what did the textbooks of 1907 have in them? What science, what history, what theories of either? Which of these would still hold water today?
As discoveries have been made and new facts uncovered over the 100+ years since that hymn was first published, what "truths" have come out? Will even these new ones stand the test of time as new facts are discovered?
Van Dyke talked of Christians that are not afraid that any "truth" will destroy their faith in the ultimate truth of what God has done. What is accepted by society as truth may pass away as science keeps digging, but their's is a truth that will not change.
There seems to be all sorts of relative truths out there and temporary ones as well, but I will trust in the God that has placed that ultimate one out there, the one that will still be there when it is all over.
And my prayer is that God will help me to discover all that and live by it. If I can't know it all, I can still trust in the One that does.
Amen
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