♬ Look at the World ♬

Sabbath is more than the absence of work; it is not just a day off, when we catch up on television or errands. It is the presence of something that arises when we consecrate a period of time to listen to what is most deeply beautiful, nourishing, or true. It is a time consecrated with our attention, our mindfulness, honoring those quiet forces of grace of spirit that sustain and heal us.

Wayne Muller, American author, in Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest (1999)

On hearing the choir's anthem I vowed to set aside all the 'to-dos' on my list and to go out and "Look at the World". I took a quiet drive along back roads where the 40km/hr speed limit mandates people to slow the whirl of busyness that most of us get caught up in. Autumn colours lined the road and sunlight illumined the spectrum gloriously. Every curve and hill in the road evoked an expression of awe as a new spectacular vista appeared before the windshield.

I walked along Spencer Creek, watching a Red-Tailed Hawk soar, breathing in the fresh air scented with Autumn, and picking burrs off my sweater. I laughed. I sought out a waterfall. When I found it, after making a kilometer-long detour on the wrong trail, it wasn't much more than a trickle; but I wasn't disappointed. The journey's purpose was to look at the world with a thankful heart. My mission was accomplished with the flying colours of red and gold leaves!

Here is a beautiful presentation set to John Rutter's composition, "Look at the World", sung by The Cambridge Singers:

Look at the World

Look at the world, everything all around us
Look at the world and marvel every day.
Look at the world: so many joys and wonders,
So many miracles along our way.

Chorus:
Praise to Thee, O Lord for all creation.
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share, and every blessing,
All things come of Thee.

Look at the earth bringing forth fruit and flower,
Look at the sky the sunshine and the rain.
Look at the hills, look at the trees and mountains,
Valley and flowing river, field and plain.

(Repeat Chorus)

Think of the spring, think of the warmth of summer,
Bringing the harvest before winter's cold.
Everything grows, everything has a season,
Till it is gathered to the Father's fold:

(Repeat Chorus)

Every good gift, all that we need and cherish,
Comes from the Lord in token of His love.
We are His hands, stewards of all His bounty
His is the earth and His the heavens above.

(Repeat Chorus)

All things come of Thee!