What a Wonderful World - July 4, 2021
Genesis 1: Selected Verses
Deborah Laforet
What A Wonderful World
Let us pray. May the words from my lips and the meditations of my heart be guided by the Spirit and be words of wisdom for this today. Amen.
The past year and more there has been a lot of turmoil and chaos in our world. Amidst a world-wide pandemic, we have had protests in the street since the murder of George Floyd by police, we have been on edge over a nail-biting US election, we have seen climate disasters in the form of fires, unusual weather, flooding and droughts, and more recently, we are reeling from the reports of more than a thousand uncovered graves of indigenous children outside of former residential schools. I know my own heart is heavy and, at times, I feel little hope for our world and for the future of this earth. Constantly though, beauty breaks through, goodness is exposed, smiles light up a room, and hope is restored.
This summer, I am preaching on songs. I have invited people to share with me a song that is meaningful to them, on which I will then connect to scripture and preach upon. Today’s song is “What a Wonderful World,” sung by Louis Armstrong.
“What a Wonderful World” was originally released in 1967. It was written by Bob Thiele and composed by George David Weiss. It was a number one hit in the U.K., but didn’t get very far in the U.S., mostly because the the president of ABC Records didn’t like it. It wasn’t until 1988, when the song was re-released on the soundtrack of the hit movie, “Good Morning Vietnam,” that it became a sensation.
The words are poetic. Here is the first verse.
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
How many of you have been out walking more than you ever have during this pandemic? Have you noticed the change of seasons more than usual? Have you enjoyed the wind on your face, and sometimes the rain when getting caught in a sudden downpour? I’ve enjoyed watching the flowers bloom, the buds on the trees turn to leaves, and feeling the sun on my skin, watching the bees seek their pollen, the rabbits find their greens, and the birds flying gracefully overhead. We live in a wonderful world, one that can seem fragile and easily broken, but one that is resilient, adaptable and hopefully, has the ability to heal and mend the damage from us humans.
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The song naturally made me think of our creation story, with its creation of sun and moon, dry land and vegetation, creatures of the water and the sky, creatures with lots of legs and those on two. Like the song with its repeated phrase, “What a wonderful world,” our bible story repeats, “It was good.” Every day, God creates, and proclaims, it is good. On the final day, the sixth day, God looks back at all that has been created and says, “It is very good.” This story of poetry in our bible and this modern song of poetry ring in tandem the glories of creation, seeing the beauty in both the bright blessed day and the dark sacred night, in the joy and the pain, in the chaos and the quiet, and the familiar and the new. All of it a part of the world in which we live, and what a wonderful world.
The colours of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
"I love you”
Do you see the beauty in the colours of the rainbow in the faces of people going by? We are created, each one unique, each one a gift, each one valued. How often do we hear love when someone asks us how we’re doing? I think most of us tend to believe that people are judging us, always ready to offer criticism. It seems hardwired in our brains and bodies to believe that people think the worst rather than the best of us. What if, instead of assuming negativity, we assumed the opposite. In every “how do you do?” we heard I love you. You are amazing. It’s wonderful to see you. What a gift you are! Wouldn’t the world feel that much more wonderful?
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll never know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
In this, I hear a hopeful sentiment for the future. The crying baby is a hopeful sign, new life, new opportunities, more love to share, a little person who will grow in knowledge and wisdom and will know more than we do today and will use that knowledge towards an even more wonderful world. Of course, that means we need to be around to love and care for these gifts of life, to impart our hard-earned wisdom, and then to trust in our young people, let them make their mistakes, and then watch them fly.
“What a Wonderful World” is a beautiful song, offering beauty and hope. I can't share it with you because of copyright but I invite to find and take a listen.
I also invite you to take time this summer to experience the wonders of creation, to see the beauty in one another, to find hope in acts of peace and justice. Maybe turn off the news for a time. Turn off your screens. Sit in your backyard. Chat with a friend. Go for a walk, a run, a bike ride, a swim. Seek out a child’s laughter. Enjoy a favourite food or drink. Tell a funny story. Appreciate the moment. Let this pleasure, beauty, wonder, and love soak into your bones. May you know and may you feel that everything God has made is very good. And may you think to yourself, what a wonderful world! Amen.