questions and a song

I think the natural response to witnessing suffering and brokenness is to ask why?

[why them? why not me? why at all? why, God?]

And I think for a lot of people, it feels like these why’s fall upon deaf ears.

I’ve had cause to think about this a lot in the past six months, in traveling to East Africa and Southeast Asia. I’ve seen (and smelled) a poverty so completely foreign to my upper middle class suburban upbringing that it shook me at my core.

So I’ve asked the questions and searched for answers.

And I’m still asking and still searching. I don’t expect to stop anytime soon.

But in the meantime, this song has been stuck in my head for quite a few days and it’s brought me some comfort. Perhaps it will help ease the questions in your mind, too.

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 hands 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: 

why should my heart be sad? 

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! 

God reigns; let the earth be glad!