Foreword Note:
Words for this piece first started coming to mind in 2005, when I lived in Whittier, Alaska, in a water-side apartment on the 12th floor of Begich Towers.  As often happened when gazing out over Passage Canal and the mountains beyond, my mind wandered to memories of other areas and happenings from the Sound.  That’s what first inspired this, and there have been lots of re-writes ever since.  I intend to eventually overlay this piece into a Ken Burns-style video that will show with photos what I try and describe with words.

Ode To Creator God

Oh Lord my God, how I adore you.
Oh Lord my God, how great You are.
For when I see Your great creation,
Your mountains, Your waters,
my heart inclines to You, oh Lord my God,
for You have made them all.
Oh Lord my God, for these I praise Your name.

Oh Lord my God, how great Your wonders,
around us spread in grand design.
For out there yon, lie Your green islands,
and valleys –  with rivers of ice that meet the sea.
Oh Lord my God, and You have made them all.
Oh Lord my God, for these I praise Your name.

Creator God, how fine Your creatures,
all You have made, throughout the Sound.
For out there yon, swim Your fine Orcas,
And humpbacks are breaching,
with joy so pure and free.
Oh Lord my God, and You have made them all.
Oh Lord my God, for these I praise Your name.

Creator God, how fine Your creatures,
all you have made, throughout the Earth;
and over all, in YOUR own image,
You made man, and breathed life,
YOUR very life in us.
O Lord my God, the wonder of it all.
Oh Lord my God, I  thank You now for life.

Oh Lord my God, although Your wonders
delight my eye, and stir my soul,
they surely are but pale reflections,
of YOU Lord, and just hint at
what must Your beauty be.
O Lord my God, the wonder of it all;
Oh Lord my God, I  thank You now for life.

Oh Lord my God, though I see faintly,
though now I know and see in part;
still can I know, by Your own promise,
the day will come, for all to see;
your beauty so magnificent;
your beauty so radiant,
your presence so undeniably evident.

Oh Lord my God,
I praise You now,
in Jesus’ holy name.

Amen and amen