Crying, crying little one,
crying due to all the things “they’ve” done
to you in this cold cruel world
Quiet down, O little one,
else the gentleness of the breeze
or the quiet, singing leaves
you simply will not hear
Learn to listen, O young one,
or that elusive melody
in which resounds reality
will never become dear
O my resting little one
have you now heard the song,
do you now see, though all seems wrong,
Your Father, He is always near?
* * * * *
There are two things I want to say with this poem. The first is this: The world is bustling with activities, ideas, philosophies, lies, manipulations and all kinds of chaos and suffering. This agitates us and makes us lose our peace. But amid the chaos there is truth. There has to be; otherwise nothing would be. We get a glimpse of this reality in the song of nature. It’s in the “gentleness of the breeze, the quiet, singing leaves” if you will, and the theme of this song is praise, praise to the glory of God in all he has created. The little one in this poem is crying, because he does not hear the melody of praise. He has been clouded with the noise of “the city,” and it distracts him from aligning himself with reality as it is.
Do we step out of the city and learn to listen? Do we hear the melody of praise in God’s creation? We need to step out of the city; and by city I mean anything that has to do with the day to day demands of earthly duties and needs. We need to step out and see God’s handiwork and creative power. Of course, we cannot leave the city permanently. That is where we live and work, but, remember, it is not our home. It is only a home to those whose treasure is on earth. We are citizens of the city of God, whose foundations are in heaven.
The second message I wanted to express through the poem is God’s Fatherly care. Human fathers are an illustration to us of our relationship with God. Though, I must say, God is a Father to us in a greater and profounder way than our earthly fathers. Nevertheless, in Scripture we see Jesus calling us to pray to and live for our Father in Heaven. This implies the tender care of God. He knows us well, far better than we know ourselves, and he cares for all our needs. Has the city ignored you? He has always been listening. Has the city hurt you? He is there to heal. Has the city rejected you and closed itself to you? He is there to embrace you.
It’s when we forget God is our Father that we cry. We feel helpless, scared and incapable of of obtaining peace. Yet all the while he is the one holding us in his arms.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1st Peter 5:6-7