And I Think to Myself -- What a Wonderful World

Last week, my kids were in Africa and were in awe and wonder of God's magnficent creation. -- lions, cheetahs, tigers, hyenas, elephants, monkeys....everywhere -- all in the wild in God's wonderful world.

And here we were yesterday in Georgetown Texas, to sign the kids in for their regional speech and debate tournament that begins today at Concordia University. . I had time to walk around this beautiful San Gabriel River and Park that sparked Louie Armstrong's old song "And I think to myself -- what a wonderful world." I saw a young couple cuddling on a picnic table and I saw a young family having fun jumping on rocks across forks in the river. I saw the beautiful flowing rapids of the San Gabriel River and each new scene I came upon, I broke into song again "What a wonderful world!"

Those words are so true no matter what we're going through in this life. In spite of challenges that we may be facing, the risks we might be taking, the pain we may be experiencing, and the trials that we are going through. Nevertheless, I think to myself what a wonderful world.

Just getting away and walking in nature causes us to breathe in the energy of God and His creation. Touching what He touches. Embracing what He embraces.

Seven years ago my sweetheart had just been told that he needed to be on hospice and the first person that came to see us after that was a beautiful African/American man named Melvin. He brought such joy and comfort to us when he walked through the doors of our home. He told us that he sang in his church's choir and I asked him to sing to us. As my sweetheart, faced with so many questions about tomorrow, looked out our bedroom window, Melvin belted into that beautiful song: "I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom, for me and you. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue, And clouds of white. The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, are also on the faces, of people going by. I see friends shaking hands, saying, "How do you do?" They're really saying, "I love you".

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

God created this world for you and me. And in spite of the chaos and disorder that may be all around us in our own life as well as in this world, God brings order and calm to everything that He created, and that includes me and you.....if we just let Him!