Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day!
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.
Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine
Mortals, join the happy chorus,
which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
in the triumph song of life.
~ Henry J. Van Dyke
I'm feeling quite joyful lately. A
new perspective can do that, you know - when God adjusts our focus past the "could'ves, should'ves, would'ves" to the cross of Jesus Christ. Shame and regret blur as grace and mercy sharpen.
How could I have forgotten? It has been the lesson from my camera - perspective and focus.
I have a choice - I can focus on the frost-bitten grass or the tiny yellow wildflowers. The barren trees or the waxwings with tail feathers dipped in yellow. A neighbor's unsightly trash heap or the
iron scroll work propped against his shed.
I once was lost, but now I'm found...was blind, but now I see.
A glimpse or two from the past week or so, if you care to take a peek:
