Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Fairest Lord Jesus



Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,

O thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor

Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.


Dusk spread its silky fingers over the horizon as we drove through Clover Meade. It had been a long day: sitting in a car, reading Jane Austen, and listening to Bach fugues over the speakers as we drove up the continent to our homeland. The day was glorious. A blue sky and a golden sun graced our eyes with their beauty as a cheerful, fresh wind breathed Spring into our lungs.

It seems fitting that the Savior, who is Life, should have been resurrected in a time that such Resurrection takes place. The new birth of all around us thrilled through our veins, though we were only passive observers of the growth. Perhaps the best way to come into fellowship with that same renewal is through the spiritual camaraderie of our own Soul's newness in Jeshua.


The beauty of the season and the soul pervading the season filled my heart, and, when the car finally came to a stop in front of my home, I lost little time in running up to my bedroom, replacing my travel-weary clothes for a fresh eyelet skirt and sky-blue shirt, and, my feet bare-shod, I tripped down the back staircase and out into the loveliness of the evening.


Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring:

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.


The Chinook had been busy while I was absent. It had sprinkled away the plum blossoms on the Tree of Life and the pear blossoms on Lady Cordelia––as I had christened them in a blissfully Emily of New Moon phase––and onto the lush green clover, intertwining pure white petals with the lavender violets and yellow sunflowers that carpeted the damp, warm earth. Old William and Lady Dawn, the apple trees, seemed a bit belated in the growth of their canopy of green leaves, but close inspection boasted little buds just breaking forth from their wooden cocoon. Squirrels scurried through the tree branches, watching with eager eyes for the fruit that was soon to appear to make their supper. Red-breasted robins chirped their cheerful chorus from their newly built nests, while brilliant bluejays hopped along the grass, looking for the earthworms that were just burrowing up to the warm sunlight from their winter haven in the depths of the ground.


I walked down the hill, inhaling the sweetly-scented breeze as it blew all worldly cares from my eyes and mind, and sang Fairest Lord Jesus as I surveyed the beauty of His creation. I marveled at the knowledge that Jesus is, truly, fairer and purer than the wonder-full fairness of purity I saw all around me.


Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,

And all the twinkling starry host:

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer

Than all the angels heaven can boast.


I directed my steps to the peach tree sapling, which, just planted last year, and rather neglected by its stewards, is struggling to obey God's commandment to bear fruit. It looked beautiful in the setting sun, just sprouting its first emerald leaves and pink flowers, from her slender ivory branches. I prayed that God might make her bear good fruit, and, after a little thought over what name would encapsulate her beauty, called the tree Cherith, in the old tradition of Adam.


The sun dipped below the hills as the moon grew clearer in the periwinkle heavens. I lay on the grass for a few minutes, letting the warmth of Spring seep into my bones. After praying to the Lord of the dance of creation, I made my way back up the sloping lawn and into the house, praising the Rose of Sharon for the Beauty birthed of His Holiness (Psalm 29:2 KJV)


Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

Now and forevermore be thine.


Hymn by Munster Gesangbuch

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this hymn! The words are transcendent. And the prose surrounding the poetry sets it off warmly. Beautiful, Camille! Keep on writing.

Kathleen

Camille Rose Wolaver said...

Thanks so much, Kathleen! This hymn is one of my very favorites, too. The intertwining of beautiful poetry and spiritually profundity is, as you said, transcendent. Thanks again!

Katelyn LaRee Mahoney said...

Yes, it is such an exquisite time to be outdoors.
You took me there with your artistic way of writing. I liked the names you gave your fruit trees.
At our delightful home the springtime brings a lot of outside work, but it is rewarding. Thank you for putting my mind in the right prospective. At times it tends to be on the strenuous tasks that are before me, instead of the beauty that surrounds me. At this time of the year, I especially enjoy smelling the air full of the sweet fragrance that orange blossoms produce. Around our grounds the loquat trees are producing their luscious fruit. The blueberries, blackberries, wisteria and tabebuia are in bloom. Recently we acquired raspberry bushes, peach, persimmon, pomegranate, and tea olive trees. The olive tree gives off sort of a sweet honey fragrance, and I am told that one could use the blossoms in tea. “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” Ecclesiastes 2:24 KJV

Camille Rose Wolaver said...

Thanks so much for the comment, Katie! I didn't recognize you at first, with your full name…which is very pretty by the way! Your description of the trees and flowers and such you have outside your house sound so beautiful! I would love to have all the fruit bushes and trees that you listed, and the tea-olive tree sounds very interesting. I'll have to look it up online. I think the way that trees and herbs and fruits and plants have such healing powers inherent in them. God is certainly brilliant in His beauty. Oh yes! The orange blossoms when we were in Florida this last weekend quite overwhelmed us with their sweetness. It was so lovely to be able to smell that lovely perfume wherever we went! Thanks so much for commenting! Many blessings to your family!

Briana Monet Mahoney said...

What a beautiful post! We were thinking of your family the other day as we wended our way to the Historic Bok Sanctuary for a Moonlight Carillon Recital. It was just the kind of experience you all would enjoy. On the highest point in Florida where massive oak trees grace the gloam Bok tower rises from the center with stunning dignity. There are many interesting trails loaded with the most beautiful and fragrant flora and fauna leading up to the pink marble tower. The tower is surrounded by a moat wherein swim giant goldfish and graceful swans. The gothic door of the tower (my favorite) set on a grassy knoll is made of brass embossed with scenes of the creation of the world. For the moonlight recitals the paths are lighted with hammered copper torches and the crenellated tower is illuminated . It always makes me feel like I am in a fairy tale, especially as the moon rises and the bells play their melodious tunes. Edward Bok’s motto: “Leave the world a little bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it”, has echoed in our minds as we have endeavored to make our grounds a miniature “sanctuary”.
If you want to see pictures of Bok Tower here is the link to the website. http://www.boktowergardens.org/

Camille Rose Wolaver said...

Dear Briana,

Thank you so much for your comment! Your description was utterly beautiful. I will definitely enjoy looking at the website and pictures and etc. We love all things beautiful and tasteful! I love being able to stay in touch with ya'll. Many blessings on your whole family! And thanks again!

Benjamin Wolaver said...

Beautiful, Camille. Boy, those stewards better give that peach tree a chance...

abbykautt said...

Beautiful Camille, I love spring and those who can capture the essence of it are talented indeed.

Just in case you didn't notice, all of your links are broken, so you should re-do them.

Thank you for sharing your brilliant mind with us, as you write for God's glory and our enrichment!!

P.S. It was wonderful speaking with you earlier this week. :)

Camille Rose Wolaver said...

Thanks Benjamin!

And thanks for commenting, Abby! I enjoyed talking the other day too! And thanks for telling me about the links…I had no idea they were all defunct. I hope you can come to the Rendezvous!

The Kautts said...

I love this hymn too! I miss hearing from you, Cammy!

Lots of love,
Jo

Camille Rose Wolaver said...

Dear Johanna,

I'm sorry I've been so lax in emailing you! I'll try to make reparation soon :) Life and time does fly away from you, huh?

Love,
Milly