by Tim Hall

For several years I have been impressed with some of the poetry of William Cullen Bryant. The America Bryant inhabited from 1794 to 1878 was very different from the one we know. But just beyond the city limits of our day lies a world that is just the same for us as it was for him -- if we take the time to visit it.

That Bryant often visited the forest seems evident from his poem, "A Forest Hymn". In this piece, he extols the virtues of taking time to meditate in the midst of God's great creation (something the Bible also encourages us to do). How we deprive ourselves by being confined within our air conditioned walls! Our understanding of God is poorer because of our urban habits.

Toward the end of "A Forest Hymn", Bryant reflects on powerful demonstrations of nature: lightning, thunder, strong winds, etc. Such displays, he wrote, force anyone to take note of the overwhelming power of God. But Bryant prayed for wisdom to look more deeply at God's creation. Consider these closing words from the poem:

Oh, from these sterner aspects of thy face
Spare me and mine, nor let us need the wrath
Of the mad unchained elements to teach
Who rules them.  Be it ours to meditate,
In these calm shades, thy milder majesty,
And to the beautiful order of thy works
Learn to conform the order of our lives.

Anyone will be temporarily humbled by tornadoes, floods and hurricanes -- how can we not be? But it takes a reflective person to step outside during more ordinary seasons, contemplating lessons that can be learned about God everyday. Wasn't this Jesus' point in Matthew 6:26,28, when He urged us to "Look at the birds of the air" and to "Consider the lilies of the field" (New King James Version)? Taking time to think about the "milder majesty" of God can teach us much!

God is truly so good! He "daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!" (Psalm 68:19) May it not take a wild natural catastrophe to get our minds off what's playing on television to think about the Almighty Creator. He can, and will, get our attention some day! But for now He urges us to think on His milder majesty.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8)