A HYMN FOR EARTH DAY

 I have been posting to this blog since June of 2010.  I was motivated to take up blogging in response to an environmental disaster--the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  As we celebrate Earth Day this week and are reminded yet again of our ongoing responsibility to take care of our planet, I thought I would share with you a hymn that I wrote on the occasion of that event.  The words
are sung to the hymn tune MELITA (better known as the Navy Hymn, or "Eternal Father, Strong to Save").  I hope it will bring to mind ways you can make a difference as we work together to save the earth.

O Gracious Maker, from your hand, have come to us both sea and land.

You fill our oceans, far and wide, place trees throughout the countryside,

You scatter clouds across the sky,

Make fish to swim, and birds to cry.

 

But all too often we’ve ignored, the trust you’ve placed in us dear Lord;

We fail to handle earth with care, we leave a stain most ev’rywhere,

We spill your oil and tar the land,

We darken river, marsh and sand.

 

Give us the courage that we need, to conquer selfishness and greed.

Help us to change our wasteful ways, so earth might see far better days.

Teach us to know what’s right, what’s wrong,

So ev’ry voice might raise a song!