“Early in the cool morn hours 
Early, before the waking of the sky
Early, while the day yet sleeps
Navajo and Lakota, Cree and Ojibway,
The many People of the Land
Arise
To sing forth the sun.
Early, while the day yet sleeps
Navajo and Lakota, Cree and Ojibway,
The many People of the Land
Arise
To sing forth the sun.
Like a morning sacrifice of praise,
It is a duty, to sing forth the sun….”
It is a duty, to sing forth the sun….”
Visiting six-year-olds can provide surprises for Grandmas. Mine was after my grandson asked to watch “Olaf” on YouTube. Olaf is a snowman featured in Disney’s Frozen movies and stars in a series of tender, funny, short videos. We watched Jacob’s favorites repeatedly, but the one called “Sunrise”, caught my attention — and I was the one who kept asking to repeat it.
In pre-dawn light, Olaf, seated on a grassy area, eating a large bowl of popcorn with delight, looks across a mountain lake. Slowly, at the far end of the lake, the sky brightens and the sun slowly rises over the water. Olaf puts on his sunglasses, claps and cheers, “Wow! Well done, well done!”
Well done, indeed. That scene reminded me of how God’s creation has comforted and encouraged many of us during the pandemic. Olaf’s glee put to mind once again how, at the sun’s rising, we need to take time to notice, to celebrate and praise the simple gifts of a generous Creator who we experience and enjoy.
“…It is a prayer
And a need like breath
to know the universe awaits you
to know the universe awaits you
To sing forth the sun.
In a time of waiting
When the dawn will come
As surely as the night,
As surely as the night,
In a time of waiting
It is a duty and a prayer to sing forth
It is a duty and a prayer to sing forth
The sun.”
…. from “Singing Forth the Sun” by Susan Cherwien
…. from “Singing Forth the Sun” by Susan Cherwien
Deaconess Edie Eickemeyer, Valparaiso, IN
