What a Wonderful World

It’s the middle of summer. This morning the sun is shining. I look out in the garden – green grass, red salvia, yellow roses, purple violas… birds at the feeders, squirrels chasing around… No-one sings ‘What a wonderful world’ like Louis Armstrong..

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and for you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, and clouds of white
The bright blessed days, dark sacred nights
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

This afternoon we shall walk beside the beach. We shall see the sand, sea, cliffs, trees, fields. I reflect on the good God who made this wonderful world, and the words of Psalm 136.

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever…
⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
⁷ who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

I shall also see the wonderful world of people today – all ages, colours, shapes, sizes…

The colours of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands sayin’ how do you do
They’re really sayin’ I love you

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
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world

We heard our own first baby cry nearly fifty years ago. We watched our children and grandchildren grow. We’ve shared our lives with many good friends. I’m reminded of the good God who made this wonderful world of people – and the words of Psalm 139:

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth…

We hear so much about wars and climate change, suffering and pain. Today I think to myself, ‘What a wonderful world’ and I thank my God for it.