Happy Sunday!

This morning in the onboard worship service, we sang the hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” It made me think of all the magnificent aspects of God’s creation in this great big world we all call home. I was thinking about many of the beautiful sights we’ve seen since we boarded the Insignia last January. These are the words we sang.

All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful,The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, God made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain, The river running by, The sunset, and the morning That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, God made them, every one.

God gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well.

Of course we don’t have to go around the world to see these things – we can simply look out our own window! It is truly a beautiful world that God has created for us to enjoy in all seasons!

There’s a man named David on this ship who is blind. I sometimes wonder how he could get much enjoyment out of going on the excursions and not being able to see all the things that the rest of us get to see. His hearing is fine and his wife Becky is incredible in telling him what we’re seeing or having him touch or smell something and making his plate with things that are easiest for a person without sight to eat. We admire them so much. Every time I see him, it’s a reminder that I shouldn’t take not one sense for granted. Thank you God for the ability to see, hear, touch, smell and taste. They are all blessings and we do give you thanks and praise for all you have made.

Below are just some of the incredible sights we've seen, many of which are right off our veranda.

 

layers of blue, Mayotte - French Comoros

Only God

springbok, Mossel Bay, South Africa

one of the "Big 5"

lupine - Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

whale fluking - Antarctica

scissor-tailed hummingbird - Arica, Chile

Atlantic sunset

outdoor market in Puerto Montt, Chile

sunrise

beach cow - Banjul, Gambia (Africa)

sunset somewhere over the Atlantic

amazing Antarctica

floating glacier - Antarctica

zebras grazing - Mossel Bay, South Africa

Indian Ocean, Mozambique Channel

rainbow extends into water

approximately 270 degree rainbow - Mozambique Channel

palm - Argentina

 

panoramic - Antarctica

sky seemed to be on fire!

Cape Town, South Africa

Puerto Grande - Cape Verde

Cape Verde

a January sunset

a pink sunset in April