One beautiful morning, Henry Van Dyke (1907) was staying with the president of Williams College where he had been invited to preach. Van Dyke was an ordained Presbyterian minister but served most of his career (1899-1922) as a professor of English literature at Princeton University. Many concerns in the news troubled them during those bleak days before World War I. Moved by the beauty of the Berkshire Mountains, joy broke through. Van Dyke was inspired to write.
[May I invite you to pause here. Please close your eyes and spend thirty seconds in silence, centering yourself, becoming mentally focused in the present, then opening your heart as a flower opens to the sun. Let Van Dyke’s joy become your own, and let it lead you to praise your Creator.]
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
Chanting bird and flowering 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 art Thine
Teach us how to love each other
Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals join the mighty chorus
Which the morning star began
Father love is reigning over 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.[1]
Enjoying God is what we are created for. I’ve learned it’s good to follow my heart into devotion. God’s beauty in nature, Scripture, and the Arts are God’s gifts of himself to us. As we receive them, we receive him; we draw close and worship.
At breakfast Van Dyke handed his friend a piece of paper, saying, “Here is a hymn for you. Your mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to the music of Beethoven’s ‘Hymn of Joy.’”[2]
Don’t discount the value of paying attention to what brings you joy as you seek to draw near. This is how God intends creation to guide us.
It’s good to follow our hearts. Perhaps it will lead our gaze to the beauty outside our window and raise a song in our hearts. When our minds are weary, perhaps the joy we feel as we bask in nature’s beauty will lead us to heartfelt devotion.
Devotional Activity
Perhaps you’d like to copy a favorite psalm or poem into your journal, or sing a joyful song.
This rendition of Joyful Joyful will bring a smile to your heart. Perhaps you’d like to join in and follow your heart into worship.
[1] Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee by Henry Van Dyke. Public Domain.
[2] Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul, p. 264.
The content of this post is from All Creation Sings by Luann Budd.