Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day. – Eleanor Farjeon/Cat Stevens

Sunday morning, early light, overcast with a light mist over the common, absolutely nobody out, just the sound of the occasional leaf reaching the ground. The day is already meditative and – in every sense – worshipful.

All the noise – the tumult – of life seems to take a back seat at dawn. The uproar, the dissonance, the injustices, the failures, the brokenness. It is as if the trees in the Town Common join together to speak the ultimate assurance that love and truth and redemption hold so much more power and speak with real authority.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts. – Psalm 46

“Be still,” the Psalmist goes on to say in verse 10. “Cease striving.” “Stop fighting.” “That’s enough!” “Calm down.” “Let go of your concerns.” “Desist!” And, one of my favorites, “Give ye attention!”

So, friends, give ye attention to the remarkable witness of the morning and listen to the wisdom of the trees. “God will help us at the break of day. (5b).

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress! – Psalm 46:11