Tonight I enjoyed a peaceful, contemplative walk on the farm in the quiet of the hushed late summer evening. Equally as quiet as the still breeze was my companion, Lady, our newest member of the family (a sweet 'rescue' dog).
The ordinary grass, corn, cattle barn that can seem boring in the daylight takes on a soothing, comforting luster in the fading shadows of the day. Tonight, an added bonus was the herd of feeder cattle that were lazily grazing in the small pasture near the barn. They chewed silently, slowly on the clover while watching Lady & I walk in the distance.
The sky was clear...and the glow of the moon rising was brilliant against the backdrop of the darkening deep blue, then violet sky. The jets above glowed from the reflective setting sun. It was...beautiful...peaceful.
The quiet and beauty focused my heart and stilled my mind. The scene brought to my recollection an old hymn that was sung in the church of my youth. As I child I was drawn to the melody and the imagery...as an adult I know the deep truth of the lyrics.
- Day is dying in the west,
Heav'n is touching earth with rest,
Wait and worship while the night
Sets her evening lamps alight
Through all the sky.
- Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of Hosts!
Heav'n and earth are full of Thee!
Heav'n and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord, most high!
- Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, Thy home,
Gather us, who seek Thy face,
To the fold of Thy embrace,
For Thou art nigh.
- While the deepening shadows fall,
Heart of love, enfolding all,
Through the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil Thy face,
Our hearts ascend.
