July 2, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Saturday, July 2.
In about a month, school will start again - short summer! On the Sunday before, First Baptist will honor all the teachers in our community. We appreciate the important and challenging work that teachers do and the difference that they make in the lives of our children.
In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates was a high school teacher in Massachusetts. That summer she traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Been there? It's the home of the beautiful Air Force Academy and the majestic Pikes Peak. One summer day, Katherine and some friends made the journey up to the top of that mountain, an arduous trip at that time. As she finally stood on the summit, exhausted and exhilarated, she said, “It seemed like all of America was laid out before me”. In that moment she was inspired to write a poem that she titled “Pikes Peak”.
Her poem was soon set to a moving melody by church organist Samuel Ward. He wrote it one summer day as he took a boat ride across New York City Harbor. A soulful rendition of this song, by Ray Charles, is played each New Year’s Eve in New York’s Time Square, as the glittering ball drops. And after the planes flew into New York’s Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, heart wrenching performances of Katherine Bates’ song were heard all across our land.
And her song speaks to us again today.
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears
America! America! God shed His grace on Thee
And crown Thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea
Meet you back here on Monday, with the story behind “God Bless America”
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
