America - Our Treasure

Mike and I traveled west this summer, taking some time to enjoy the beautiful drive. While some of the land spilled forth endless fields from the horizon, we would see some of the most beautiful, picturesque landscapes. I quit trying to capture them in photos, because I could never do justice to the sights we embraced. Just when I had seen the best of the best, we would discover another hidden treasure in America!

Do you realize how beautiful this land is? We saw waves of grain, rolling hills, deep canyons filled with waterfalls! Majestic mountains. Sweet, plush valleys. The endless Pacific Ocean. We spoke with many people along the way; friendly folks planted within the cities, towns and valleys. People who also love America.

This morning, the Lord reminded me of an old song that we would sing often in school concerts, as I was growing up. It makes me wonder if these patriotic songs are still being sung. Do the children know these songs by memory, like I do? Or are we losing this precious part of our history? For truly, these words penned by Katherine Lee Bates, a teacher, speak to the beauty that we witnessed this summer.

Bates traveled across America to teach at Colorado College, in Colorado. On her train trip, she would be inspired by the many sights she passed. Her trip would climax with the majestic view from Pikes Peak. Returning to her hotel room, and inspired by view from the mountain top, she would write 4 verses.

The original poem of 1893, tells the tale of a beautiful America, graced by God. It speaks of the Pilgrims journey. It was tough, but God’s grace was upon them. It looks into the future years of strife. Years when men would need God to refine them. Noble men that realize the importance of God’s grace upon her land. Men who would need to fight for her one day.

The newer version requests that God would crown America with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea! I love that! A country built on faith, beautiful, graced by God, and a prayer for unity!

Samuel A. Ward, a church organist and choirmaster at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey, would put it to his tune, Materna. He too, had been inspired to write the melody after a ferryboat trip from Coney Island to his home in New York City. The poem would meet the music and it’s first publication together was in 1910, and titled America the Beautiful.

I try to imagine their trips across America. Mine was filled with concrete buildings, large cities, towns and people. Their trips would have been more quiet, natural, with beauty stretching from sea to sea! Either way, God's creation still inspires!

Lord, we pray for this great country, America. We ask you to bring unity. We thank you for those beautiful treasures that you have sprinkled throughout the land. We thank you for your grace. We pray that your grace and favor would return to us again. We need you! In your precious name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

You can view both versions of America the Beautiful at this site:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful#External_links