Doxology

Early one morning some years ago, Robert Raines wrote how he got into his car and started driving through the mountains. There was no one on the road as the mountains were quietly beginning a new day. The beautiful colors of autumn were splashed all over the trees (A great image of the coolness of an autumn mountain is always comforting to me during a heat wave). It was a magnificent and glorious sight as the early morning sun glistened upon the wonders of the mountains and the valleys below.


And then it happened… Robert Raines saw one of the most beautiful things he had ever witnessed in his life.


Right there at the very edge of that great mountain peak and facing the gorgeous valley below… was a young man in his early twenties with a trumpet pressed to his lips. And, do you know what he was playing? With his lungs expanded fully and releasing all of the energy in his soul, he was playing the Doxology on his trumpet! The traditional words are:


Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise, Father, Son and Holy Ghost!


Our Chalice Hymnal has the alternate words:


Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God above ye heavenly hosts:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.


The point is clear: With all the stresses and problems in this life, still the truth is:
- We have so many doxologies to sing,
- So much to be grateful for,
- So many blessings to count.


The point is: Life is more than a grueling endurance test. Life is more than a survival game. Life is more than a coping competition.


So, you see… it’s not enough to just escape the stress. It’s not enough to just endure the stress. Thank God… there is another option…

With a Song in my Heart,
SoulSongWriter