Is This My Father’s World?

“Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!” we declared last Easter. “Christ has won the victory over sin and death.” But yet, death and fear surrounds us. For many reasons that juxtaposition feels more tangible every year.  

When editing the worship service, "The Goodness of God" by Ruth Ann Schuringa, I noted her suggestion to sing 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 "The Goodness of God", 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 those words will be the background against which we look at this world even as we lament. 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. 

These alternate stanzas to "This Is My Father's World" can be used as a general lament, during a time of natural disaster, or when marking Earth Day, Feast of Creation in Christ, or the Season of Creation.  You will find a link to the music in minor with the transition to the major in the resources section following the song text. 

Is This My Father’s World? 

1. 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. 
    

2. 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.
    

3. Original 3^rd 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.}