Rocks and Trees

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.   – Romans 1:20


God’s creation is amazing. My oldest son and I were having a conversation about this yesterday and he said, “I mean, how could anyone not believe in God –like, this doesn’t all just happen by itself! Everything God made is just like so amazing!” Well-said, I thought.

I was at one of my favorite prayer spots this morning, about a five or ten minute drive from my house, up on the coastal cliffs… here’s a photo I took with my phone:

As I was spending time with God I had one of those tingly, kind-of other-dimensional worshipful moments of just marveling at all God has made. There is so much we take for granted. There are so many things we consider “ordinary” that are really so amazing.

I remember years ago, when I was living in Denver, this preacher came through town (Gordon Ferguson) and preached a sermon called “Glory in the Ordinary”. It really resonated with me. I am by nature a negative, melancholy, glass-is-half-empty kind of person (maybe like most artists?). His challenge to just pause and see glory in the “ordinary things” we take for granted really inspired me. I wrote a song about it called “Glory in the Ordinary”.

A starry sky
A shady tree
A look in your eyes
Love between you and me
A friend’s embrace
A stranger’s hello
The look I see on your face
That tells me I’ll never have to go

Glory in the ordinary
Rocks and trees and birds and bees
Are all gifts of love
Glory in the ordinary
Grateful eyes don’t see only skies
But a home above

Summer rain
A nap in the sun
Watching children together playing
And remembering when I was one
Having someone who cares
And watching lives change
Knowing someday we’ll share
Forever on a higher plain

Glory in the ordinary
Rocks and trees and birds and bees
Are all gifts of love
Glory in the ordinary
Grateful eyes don’t see only skies
But a home above

A phrase in the song, “rocks and trees,” became the title for an album I put out a few years back containing that song along with 14 others. I painted a picture for the CD album cover that was of my oldest son (two years old at the time) and representative of some of the stuff in that song:

Here is a recording of the song that is on the CD, Rocks and Trees.

Glory in the Ordinary

https://jbriancraig.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/07-glory-in-the-ordinary.mp3″

There is also an old hymn (100 years old) I used to sing growing up that says something about “rocks and trees.”   It’s called “This is My Father’s World.”  I think it was probably in my mind when I wrote the chorus of the song above.  I love the words of this hymn about God’s creation.

This is My Father’s World

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;

He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world:
the battle is not done;

Jesus who died shall be satisfied,

And earth and heav’n be one.

I made a quick video of a medley of these two songs together. Welcome your comments!

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