FOR THESE THINGS AND MORE I AM GRATEFUL (6)

It took me much longer than it should have, but I am grateful that the events of my life have brought me to the point where generally: I see more beautiful sights than ugly – I hear more pleasant sounds than harsh – I taste more good flavors than bad – I feel more soft objects than hard – I smell more sweet scents than repugnant.

Although I am well aware that good can only be enjoyed because bad exists, and that learning to distinguish and select the one over the other is an essential part of our progress, I am also grateful that the one has become more abundant in my life while the other has diminished.

Progress in my own life during the process of concentrating upon making my world a beautiful place can be illustrated by a series of events which began long before I was part of the chain.

When Kathleen was a young girl her father, Marlow V. Wootton, introduced her to one of his favorite authors, James Herriot, who had written a series of books based on the adventures of Herriot’s life as a veterinarian in the beautiful country sides of Wales. He used the first verse of a popular church hymn of the day for the titles of his books. All Things Bright and Beautiful – All Creatures Great and Small – All Things Wise and Wonderful – The Lord God Made Them All

During the road trips of the Empty Nestor period of our lives, Kathleen introduced me to these wonderful tales by reading aloud all of James Herriot’s books while we journeyed.

Several years ago we became aware of a television series based on Herriot’s books which had been produced by the British Broadcasting Company. Thanks to the marvels of DVD, as part of our date night for the next few years we enjoyed all seven years of this delightful series.

The basic themes which ran through the seven years of the television series were: beauty exists because we look for it – joy comes because we seek it – love is felt when we give it – wealth is a result of finding contentment with what we have – blessings are recognition of that for which we are grateful.

Because the original lines which stimulated this chain of events and ultimately impacted my life extensively were written by Cecil F. Alexander, to be included in an 1848 addition of Hymns for Little Children, this current generation probably has but a cursory knowledge of them. I will now spread the glad tidings by including his wonderful view of the world.

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings

The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
To gather every day.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

Through the magic of cinema and television we all have been transported back to those earlier days. We are fairly cognizant that life was much different in 1848 when Cecil F. Alexander penned his poem and equally so when James Herriot wrote his novels during the early part of the 20th century. Strangely, the further we get form the drudgery of eating only what we plant and harvest or the rigors of plain crossing-pioneers or the limiting effects of living in a world where adventures were bound by the distance that could be walked in a day, the less we seem able to see the beauties which surround us – to hear the melodies of nature – to savor the fruits of the harvest – to touch the earth’s varied textures – to sniff the fragrances of the winds.

I am grateful that I have eyes to see, ears to hear, a tongue to taste, fingers to feel and a nose to smell. I am doubly grateful that most of the time, the experiences given to me by these senses bring me joy and pleasure.

Some time ago I heard a daughter praising and mourning her mother, who had been taken from her prematurely because of a tragic traffic accident, say “they say she has gone to a better place, I don’t see anything wrong with this world.”

I am sure that the art of cinema and television fall far short of the glories which we are yet to experience, but while I am privileged to remain on this beautiful planet I pray I will continue to extend the list of those things which are beautiful and wondrous in the world which surrounds me and that my gratitude for them will continue to grow.

TO BE CONTINUED