On Sunny Lane: What a Wonderful World
- Editor
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
Last Sunday we sang the song, “What a Wonderful World” in church.
That song is traditionally sung by Louis Armstrong, but the recording we heard that day was by a woman whose voice I did not recognize. Of course, that song is probably sung by lots of people. I’ve even been known to sing it myself around the house from time to time.
When I hear that song, I envision the beautiful trees and flowers being highlighted in the words. I can imagine people of many colors and races meeting on the street and showing love and concern for each other. I can almost see the little babies, in their mothers’ arms, full of innocence and hope for the future—for themselves and the community.
We also sang a song about peace on earth. Somehow I couldn’t get a vision of peace on earth. It seemed as though the peace and tranquility that was exemplified in the first song had not come to fruition.
It wasn’t the fault of the second song that I was not getting a vision of peace. I was getting a picture of the nightly news and the violence and chaos that it shows every night.
What transpired in the lives of those mothers and babies and neighbors in the first song that led to such disruption? I believe the first vision is how God intended humanity to live—with mutual love and acceptance, with awe and wonder of God’s beauty.
Where did the discord and hatred come from? We can blame the devil if we like, but it just could be that it comes from within ourselves.
Perhaps, we don’t spend enough time in awe and wonder of God’s beauty of nature and people. Maybe, we don’t have enough tolerance for other people’s viewpoints. Do we not see the beauty in the size, shape and color of other people and appreciate it? Could it be that we want to be in charge of other people’s lives?
I guess each one of us has to be the best we can be and pass our vision on to others.
Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com