Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
How many times have you sung a familiar song, and then later discovered it has more verses, new thoughts that make it new all over again? Most of the time, Francis of Assisi’s song “All Creatures of Our God and King” makes me more aware of nature, of the Lord’s creation. As it should. Francis was known as a great nature-lover, so it’s no surprise that he wrote something to heighten my appreciation for all that God has made. The wonder and beauty of God’s creative genius radiates from this great song. Yet, is that theme so appealing to us as worshippers that we want to avoid thoughts that deviate from that? I wonder if that’s why I haven’t heard some of the thoughts of this song before.
One verse in particular (see the link below for the seven verses of the song) is rather different from the creation theme that Francis stresses in the other verses of this hymn. One verse gives us insight into his state of mind as he wrote – he was preparing to die, early in the 13th Century (about 1225 A.D.). It’s said that Francis was suffering tremendous pain in the last months of his life, and perhaps that explains the words of the sixth verse that begins, ‘And thou, most kind and gentle death, waiting to hush our latest breath…’. It’s safe to say he welcomed death. Though this may be true, it’s not something that’s easy to dwell upon when one is focused on God’s creation, of the living things He has authored. What a window we have into Francis’ heart in this song! Though his life was fading, Francis still regarded God as creator of life. Others might have been embittered at pain, following a life serving Him. Not Francis.
Saint Francis was born Giovanni Bernardone, and was anything but a saint early in his life. He led a pretty normal early childhood life, as the son of a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy, until his late teenage years and early adult life. He renounced his position and wealth, and willingly became poor, a beggar and the founder of the Franciscan order – or Friars Minor, a term applied to them because they chose to live simple lives of deprivation. At least, it might have seemed deprived to us. But, perhaps Francis’ humble, simple life allowed him to see what I often cannot, to reap a reward that escapes most of us. If I see myself as but a created being, from God’s hand, then the avenue to return to Him shouldn’t bring me dread, for I go to the One who knows how to re-create me. He’s trustworthy, and the body I’ll become is unimaginable. What a creature I’ll be then!
A great video of the song “All Creatures of Our God and King is at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSb1-9i-fDA
The following site shows seven verses of the song:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/c/acoogak.htm
The below site tells of Francis’ life:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi
Books used to capture some details of Francis’ life and this song he wrote are: “The Complete Book of Hymns: Inspiring Stories about 600 Hymns and Praise Songs”, by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 2006.
“Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions”, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1990.
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