For the Beauty of the Earth

Today was a beautiful, wonderful day. When I woke up this morning, I have to admit, I didn't have very high hopes (it was cloudy and rainy- in August ). But this afternoon the sun came out and it all turned around. I rode my bike down the Provo River Trail to the very end by the lake. If you keep going past the lake recreation area, the trail continues along the edge of the lake and ends abruptly at the edge of the water. There is only one other time that I can think of when pure natural beauty has literally taken my breath away. I don't know exactly what made it so beautiful to me-it could have been the perfect blue sky with just enough clouds to make it look like a painting. Or maybe it was the trees slightly blowing in the breeze which reminded me so much of my grandparent's house in Fallbrook. Or it also could have been the gorgeous mountains in the distance and the horses grazing in the field. I think what really made it so beautiful is how close I felt to Heavenly Father at that moment. I could feel His love for me, and for all of His children, so strongly. Everything seemed so simple. I sat there on the pavement for about thirty minutes and just thought about life. It was pretty cliche, but I honestly cannot imagine a more perfect place to sit and think. Before I got back on my bike, I sat there and tried to etch everything about that spot onto my brain so that I could remember it every time I get stressed or sad or lonely. I felt warm, and perfectly at peace. Nothing could touch me there. One of my favorite hymns came to mind as I was sitting there- For the Beauty of the Earth.

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

Pleasures pure and undefiled,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

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