Fables and Faith : Out of the mouths of babes
Posted on Monday, October 6, 2008
On the way home from church last week, my daughter Sherry and her husband Monty were talking to their oldest daughter Brooke about Communion. She replied “ I don’t really even know what that is. ” Brock, their 3-year old, chimed in and said: “ I do. It’s one of those lizards that changes color to hide from animals. ”
Brock is the youngest of my grandchildren and the child who didn’t speak a single word until he was 2 years old. Since that time he hasn’t stopped talking and learning at a rapid pace. Sherry said in her e-mail to me: “ Brock keeps us laughing and never gives our ears a break. ”
This morning, as I continued to unpack books and do-dads to place in my new office at our new home, I ran across another fascinating object, a book by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele entitled “ What a Wonderful World. ” The book is really beautifully illustrated and contains only the text of the lyrics of the song by the same authors and made famous by the great Louis Armstrong.
I happen to have an autographed copy of the book signed by the talented illustrator Ashley Bryan, who dedicated her illustrations “ For all people who called Louis Armstrong ‘ Brother’ OH YEAH ! ” I’m so glad it remains close on the bookshelf near my desk. I can look at it anytime, and I can sit with grandchildren on my lap and read it as they look at the beautiful artwork.
The book’s visual accompaniment to the lyrics is Bryan’s colorful artwork depicting children of many backgrounds (and Louis Armstrong himself ) performing a puppet show that brings the lyrics to life. It is definitely a book of brightness and wonder, and hope to be shared by all.
Of course the words are well known, but I’d like to share a portion of it with you. In the midst of a world of troubles — financial, economic, and torn by nature as well as man — we can find truths that are simply stated but always true: What a Wonderful World we live in.
The lyrics always touch my heart and I hope they will stir yours as well: ‘ I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you, and I think to myself, “ What a wonderful world !” I see skies of blue and clouds of white, the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night, and I think to myself, “ What a wonderful world !”
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people going by. I see friends shaking hands, saying, “ How do you do ?” They’re really saying, “ I love you. ”
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow. They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know, and I think to myself, “ What a wonderful world ! ”Yes, I think to myself, “ What a wonderful world !” With a wedding a few weeks away, I know I’ll have the chance to hold lots of grandchildren in my lap as we look at this beautiful book and savor the captivating lyrics sung by a beautiful man. Shalom !
• • • Bob Haynes ’ column appears on Mondays.
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