I am reminded of this old hymn by Percival Chubb who was a founding member of the Fabian Society, (according to Google) an influential British socialist organization that aims to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist effort in democracies. He was born in 1860 and died in 1960. He immigrated to the United States in 1889. He wrote this hymn, entitled, We Lift our Heart in Thanks which I share with you now.
We lift our hearts in thanks today for all the gifts of life;
and, first, for peace that turns away the enmities of strife.
And, next, the beauty of the earth, its flowers and lovely things,
the spring’s great miracle of birth, with the sound of songs and wings.
Then, harvests of its teeming soil in orchard, croft, and field;
but, more, the service and the toil of those who helped them yield.
And, most, the gifts of hope and love, of wisdom, truth, and right,
the gifts that shine like stars above to chart the world by night.
My take away will be to notice around me, both when we gather and when we are apart, how our beloved community fills me with thanksgiving coming and going. I hope to see them often this month.
~Lydia Patrick
