Happy Earth Day

To celebrate Earth Day, I give you one of my favorite hymns, written by Folliot S. Pierpoint in 1864. This photo is one I took in the Old Forest of Overton Park, a 342 acre (though its wooded acres are rapidly diminishing) park in the center of Memphis, TN, a mere stones-throw from my house. I hope, no matter where you might stand on the politicization or trendiness of "green" issues, you might go out and enjoy the beauty of this spring day today. We are stewards of this earth, and we need to take good care of it. Have a beautiful day, everyone!


For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.


Words by Folliot S. Pierpoint, 1864