How Great Thou Art

Aware that Glen and I have recently been hiking in the mountains, I was asked exactly what it was that I liked about hiking.  Almost without hesitation I answered, "the stilltness, the sound of the birds in the trees, the sound of the creeks, and the sheer aloneness of it."

Then today one of our sweet gentlemen at one of the nursing homes where we do services sang "How Great Thou Art."  When he got to the second verse, it echoed in my heart:

"When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!"

In the city we are surrounded by there are so many man-made things shouting at us, we can barely hear the soft, muted sounds of the created things.  In the mountains, with man-made sounds miles of ascents and descents away, the simple sounds of birds singing and brooks bubbling are a loud cacophony of praise to the One who brought them into being.   There is no where you can step workout seeing, feeling, hearing or smelling His handiwork. Our hearts swell with praise and join with all in praising the One who created and sustains us all.

If for one moment the Lord could open our ears to understand the sounds of the mountains and forests, I believe this is what they would be saying:

 "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (Revelation  5:13.)

How great Thou art, indeed.