Dear God, it was hard to find the lyrics to post for this song this morning, so I’ll just have to mention what touched me about it this morning. What touched me is that it was released for the first time in 1967. We complain right now about how chaotic our current times feel, but it feels small compared with 1967. I think our current times only feel chaotic because the politicians create a chaotic atmosphere and narrative so we will vote for them. But in 1967 we had riots in the streets, we were coming off the assassination of Kennedy and we were coming up on the assassinations of King and Kennedy’s brother. There was the Vietnam War that was brutal for everyone. And yet, somehow in the midst of this, Bob Thiele and George David Weiss were able to come up with a song that saw the beauty in the things around them. The sky. The flowers. The love between people.

So what do I see that reminds me this is a wonderful world? I see people reach out to help each other when they are struggling. I see the rich donate their resources and volunteer. I see the poor sacrifice to help their friends. I see cashiers smile at people who are downtrodden as they check out at the store. I see husbands love their wives and wives love their husbands. On nights like the one coming up at Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio this Halloween when Rotarians will hand out candy to children and their families, I see parents loving their children, including their children with special needs. Watching the love those parents have for their children is a definite reminder that it is not only a wonderful world, but also that you love us so much more than even that. I see pastors preach your Word and introduce people to you. I see lay people go into prisons to let those who are broken and damaged that you are what they are looking for.

Father, what you created is good. Genesis 1 says as much. Your world is good. We are good. We just let this selfishness creep in that disguises itself as nobility. But it’s selfishness. I have it. People around me have it. Help me to be part of your wonderful world by considering my life worth nothing to me. Help me to bring you into the world by finishing the race and completing the task you called me to. The task of testifying to your grace.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen