Lord of the springtime, Father of flower, field and fruit, smile on us in these earnest days when the work is heavy and the toil wearisome; lift up our hearts, O God, to the things worthwhile - sunshine and night, the dripping rain, the song of the birds, books and music, and the voices of our friends. Lift up our hearts to these this night and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
-W.E.B. Du Bois
It is not springtime, and it is not necessarily a day of great turmoil. It is winter, though. There is snow on the ground, the air makes my body tense up as soon as I walk outside, and the song of birds seems very far away. And yet, I love Du Bois' emphasis here. Whatever our weariness, whatever pulls our hearts away from hope or joy, let us turn instead to things worthwhile. Music, words, conversations, good food, laughing out loud - it all lifts us. It lifts our spirits, yes, but it lifts our eyes, too. When we choose to notice these pieces of God's creation within the midst of heavy days, we allow God's peace to rest in our hearts.
How often do I have a stressful day and soak into the bad attitude that comes with it? I rarely work to see worthwhile things. I don't ask God to lift up my heart or my eyes; I usually ask him to change my circumstances. And though I'm not in a present state of stress or weariness, I know those days will come.
This morning, I read Psalm 8, a prayer of it's own. Tonight, I'm reflecting back on these words: "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" You care for your people, God. You care when we are tired and when we need lifting up. You, the God of the universe, our Creator and Master, involve yourself intimately with your creation. Not only do you redirect our eyes, but you've already put into place the beauty that makes room for that peace we long for. We must simply be connected to you to see your creation more clearly.
Lord of the springtime. This makes me picture you as the Father of new hope, new life. As we approach another season of routine, in school, work, family, etc., let us grow in our ability to be lifted. Let us be led in what we look at and how we respond to our circumstances. May we be more invested in relationships and your creation than in our difficult days. And may we find peace as you lift up our hearts to those things that reflect your image and character.
Amen.