From My Nature Journal: A Small Examen

I’ve written briefly before on the examen as a centuries-old, daily spiritual practice (see September 22, 2013 post). The examen, or examination of conscience, is a discipline whereby the follower of God takes intentional time, typically near the close of the day, to consider the manner in which they served and represented their God that day.

Recently I came across another excerpt from Church of Scotland minister Alistair Maclean’s Hebridean Altars, a lovely little fragment that can serve as a tiny examen for those so inclined. The Altars are a beautiful collection of Celtic Christian prayers and praises that Maclean compiled from oral and written tradition in his native Hebrides, an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. First published in 1937, it consists of over a hundred petitions, sayings and poems, along with brief commentary, and highlights the down-to-earth manner in which Celts expressed and lived their faith life. You’ll quickly notice why I find this little selection so appealing, and why I chose to share it on my nature blog.

When the shadows fall upon hill and glen:

and the bird-music is mute:

when the silken dark is a friend:

and the river sings to the stars:

ask thyself, brother,

ask thyself, sister,

the question you alone have power to answer --

O King and Saviour of all,

what is Thy gift to me?

and do I use it to Thy pleasing?

I love this. In similar fashion to the lyrics of the traditional hymn Day is Done, sung to the tune of Taps, it employs the circadian rhythms of nature as a jumping off place for daily spiritual reflection. In amazingly few words, the first lines completely and effectively draw one in to the mood of the night, and then challenge the thoughtful person to consider their personal condition with two simple questions: God, what are Your blessings in my life? And, Do I employ them for You?

What is Thy gift to me?

And do I use it to Thy pleasing?

One of these days I am going to share more thoroughly here on the examen, but for now, this charming text can get us there. Reflect on it tonight as God gives you opportunity, and consider passing this along to others who may find nature an important spiritual pathway.

~~ RGM September 26, 2016

P.S. Interestingly, I believe the compiler of Hebridean Altars was the father of the popular novelist of the same name who lived later in the 20^th Century. Remember The Guns of Navarone?

P.P.S. No extra charge: On the same page that the elder Maclean shares the above piece, he also includes this gem which can in like manner be used as a mini-examen: Take me often from the tumult of things into Thy presence. There show me what I am and what Thou hast purposed me to be. Then hide me from Thy tears.

Blowin' in the Wind: "Taps" -- Not Just for Trumpet Players Anymore

(Blowin’ in the Wind is a regular feature on my blog consisting of an assortment of nature writings – hymns, songs, prayers, scriptures, poems or other things – pieces I may not have written but that inspire me. I trust they will do the same for you.)


It’s just a simple little song with four notes, but what a complete wallop of emotion, thoughtfulness, even pathos it can pack. It is commonly known as “Taps.” But unless you are from my generation or older, you may not know that the tune is also a wordless rendition of a lovely little nature hymn denoting sunset and end of day.

Day is Done

Day is done. Gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky.

All is well. Safely rest.

God is nigh.

Fading light dims the sight,

And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.

From afar, drawing nigh

Falls the night.

Thanks and praise for our days

‘Neath the sun, ‘neath the stars, ‘neath the sky!

As we go this we know:

God is nigh.

My first association with “Taps” came early in life at a Bible camp we used to attend each summer. Every night after ‘lights out,’ way off in the woods somewhere some kid, probably with a crew-cut and large ears, would play it on a trumpet as a blessing upon the day. Perhaps some of you remember it that way from scout camp. At Blessed Hope Bible Camp in Michigan, we’d first barely hear it as it was played on the women’s side of the campground; but then about five minutes later we’d hear it again nearer by, but still distant, and that denoted the time our counselor made us all shut up and go to sleep.

But the tune, of course, is also indelibly associated in our culture with funerals, particularly those with military honors. Though appropriate to the lyrics, and though a very somber moment in our life experiences, in my estimation this gives the lyric and tune a sadness they do not deserve.

So which came first, the tune or the lyrics? Historically, the use of the tune came some decades before the lyrics were written; as in my Bible camp experience, it was used as a bugle call in the 1800’s in military encampments in Europe and the U.S., not for funerals but for the close of day. (And humorously, the word ‘taps’ comes from the Dutch taptoe, their second-to-last bugle call of the day, intending actually that all beer keg taps be closed to soldiers! They needed to get back to camp before the last bugle call required all fires and lights to be extinguished!) By the time of the American Civil War it was regularly used in the U.S. military to mark day’s end, but it was also during this time that its use at military funerals was popularized, both in the north and south. Some time after the war, Horace Lorenzo Trim, about whom little else is known, composed the simple and thoughtful lyrics.

Whether used then as an inspiration to rest or to rest in peace, perhaps it also becomes somber or reflective in its bare, four-note simplicity. I mean, even “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” has six! And it’s also remarkably guileless today for a trumpet player to play it, who doesn’t even need to change finger position!

And yet such could also be said of the setting sun – somber, thoughtful, simple, completely common, yet awesome in its ability to take our breath away or give us pensive pause. So let’s think about end of day before we close, and perhaps in the process we can resurrect the song a bit from its relegation to funerals.

Perhaps we can resurrect
the song… from its
relegation to funerals.

In my experience, sunset is the day’s benediction. As often as I am able to enjoy it, it is as a blessing to me upon the day, a time for reflection, for prayer, for thanksgiving. A spiritual practice since time immemorial is something called in Latin an examen, or the examination of conscience; it for many is a daily discipline to think over one’s waking hours and determine where God seemed present or absent that day, or where we seemed present or absent to God. Perhaps at some point I will put up as a resource on this blog a simple instruction for an examen, but for our purposes, the sunset tonight and the lyrics of this song can alone provide good substance for our contemplation. It’s a fine song to accompany an evening examen.

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) is remembered as saying, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” She bespeaks the same theme as our song. All is well. Safely rest. God is here.

"I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, for the

Lord sustains me."

Psalm 3:5

~~RGM, September 18, 2013