God of the sparrow, God of the whale

One of my favorite hymns, though it isn’t in our hymnal, is God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale, written in 1983 by Varoslav J. Vajda.  Varoslav’s father was a Lutheran pastor, having once served in Emporia, Virginia.  He received musical training at an early age and began translating Slovak poetry at the age of 15.  Ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1944, Varoslav left the ministry in 1963 to become an editor at Concordia Publishing.  He wrote his first hymn at the age of 49, which was followed by over 200 more before his death at the age of 89. 

 
God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale is basically a Sunday School lesson, teaching children and adults that God is the center of everything.  Each verse follows this theme: 1-creation (awe and wonder); 2-nature (woe); 3-divine initiative (grace); 4-humanity (care), 5-community (love), 6-God is ever near (joy).  This hymn, one of the six most favorite hymns written in the late 1980’s, is often sung at funerals, the Eucharist, and confirmation.
 
[If you would like to hear a very meaningful rendition, go to the You Tube recording by the First Plymouth Church of Lincoln, Nebraska.]
 
God of the sparrow God of the whale God of the swirling stars
How does the creature say Awe  How does the creature say Praise
 
God of the earthquake God of the storm God of the trumpet blast
How does the creature say Woe  How does the creature cry Save
 
God of the rainbow God of the cross God of the empty grave
How does the creature say Grace  How does the creature say Thanks
 
God of the hungry God of the sick God of the prodigal
How does the creature say Care  How does the creature say Life
 
God of the neighbor God of the foe God of the pruning hook
How does the creature say Love  How does the creature say Peace
 
God of the ages God of near at hand God of the loving heart
How do your children say Joy  How do your children say Home
 
May we be in awe of the grace, care, love, and joy we receive being at home with God.
 
Bill Wilds