Thursday, June 21, 2012

Ode To Joy

A song I've known so long that I do not ever remember learning is Ode To Joy.

I'm sure you know Ode To Joy, if not by name then by sound.

Ode To Joy is also known as the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony,
"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!"


I am sure you would recognize it.

I have always loved this song but it wasn't until a few years ago that I really thought about some of the lines of text.  Specifically,
"Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above."


Wow!  I cannot get over that line.  I love flowers.  I think flowers are absolutely breathtaking, and the image of a tiny, precious flower opening in the sunlight is one of my favorite images... that is what the human heart does when in the presence of God.

That is such a powerful image and truth.

I was pondering that concept yesterday as Lloyd and I took a long walk around Vail and I snapped some pictures of the beautiful flowers we saw, unfolding like hearts.


Here is the rest of the lyrics to Ode to Joy if you're like me and want to spend the day singing it to yourself and thinking about the rest of the lyrics:
"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, God of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise:
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowering meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, --
All who live in love are Thine:
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the Joy Divine.

Mortals join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;
Father-love is reigning o'er us,
Brother-love binds man to man.
Ever singing march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music lifts us sunward
In the triumph song of life."
 
 Written by Henry van Dyke 1907


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1 comment:

  1. I love that song! Beautiful pictures - I love flowers too!

    ReplyDelete

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