The Easter feast is over, choruses of “Hallelujah” have been sung. Was it just me though or did the celebrations feel a bit subdued this year, maybe even hesitant? “Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!” we declared. “Christ has won the victory over sin and death.” But yet, death and fear surrounds us. For many reasons that juxtaposition felt more tangible to me this year.
A few weeks ago I was editing a worship service by Ruth Ann Schuringa where she referenced singing the first two stanzas of “This Is My Father’s World” Babcock in a minor key. As I looked at that text I found myself asking, “but is this really my Father’s world?” Given all that is happening around the globe and the impact of both natural disasters and the horrors meted out by humans, I can’t help but wonder where is God in all of this? These questions led me to rewrite the first two stanzas of “This Is My Father’s World.” But like in the service Ruth Ann led, I didn’t want to stay in the minor but transitioned to the major key using the words of the traditional 3rd stanza to declare with trust that yes, despite all that might suggest otherwise, this is indeed my Father’s world. “The Lord is King, let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad.”
I pray that the echoes of Sunday's praises will continue into Eastertide and be the background against which we look at this world. And I pray that our worship will make room for both our laments and our praises, acknowledging that they can exist simultaneously in our hearts and our songs.
As individuals and worshiping communities spend time this week considering the created world as part of Earth day, it seems particularly appropriate to offer these alternative stanzas to “This Is My Father’s World.” You will find a link to the music in minor with the transition to the major in the resources section.
Is This My Father’s World?
Is this my Father's world, when to my listening ears
all nature mourns and hearts are torn, and people live in fear?
Is this my Father's world? No rest is in that thought
while rocks and trees, the skies and seas, disasters on us wrought.
Is this my Father's world? The birds no carols raise;
the morning light brings yet more fright; the world is all ablaze.
Is this my Father's world, when life's not all that fair?
In the rustling grass the snake moves past, and evil seems everywhere.
Original 3rd stanza
This is my Father's world; oh, let me not forget,
that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world; why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad.
Words: Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901), stanzas 1,2 adapt. Joyce Borger, P.D.