Morning Has Broken

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dew fall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day

I am not a morning person. In fact, growing up, the LAST thing I wanted to hear in the morning was my
mom opening my bedroom door and chirping “Rise and shine!”

More like “Drag yourself out of bed and moan hopelessly.”

There are those days though, that I wake to bright spring sunshine, birds singing and new green things
all around me, and I can’t help but be cheerful in spite of the hour. My pastor has been encouraging
and challenging us to give each day to the Lord when we rise, and I am trying to do that. It doesn’t
work every day. I forget. I’m human. I wish there was a magic switch in me that, once I flip it, a new
habit is formed, never to be broken. We were listening to this song in the car recently, and I really
listened to the words. Such praise. Such joy in life. And such a willing heart to recognize God’s hand
in all of it!

As to my particular choice of artist, I grew up on all of Michael Card’s music, and his
voice is musical comfort food to me. Simplistic vocal style and beautiful instrumentals, with the added
bittersweet feeling of childhood memories makes it my favorite version of this song. I hope you enjoy it too.