Today is the feast day of John Keble, a nineteenth-century English clergyperson and theologian who was also one of the more notable poets of the era: his anthology The Christian Year (1827), was, in fact, one of the most popular books of the time. The opening poem of that volume, “Morning,” suggests the consequence of remaining attentive to the deeper meaning and value of the things we see—particularly the natural world around us, but also the people we meet and the parts of our daily life we may typically take for granted.
Keble stresses the wisdom and happiness of “Hearts that with the rising morn arise,” and “Eyes that the beam celestial view” (referring to the light of God as well as the morning sun), and he tells us that this light “evermore makes all things new!” (17-20). Recognizing the transcendent and divine aspect of things will cause us to “hallow all we find,” as it will reveal them to be, “New treasures still, of countless price” (30-31). When we are aware that the things and people around us are treasures of God, their sacredness becomes more apparent and, as Keble puts it, “Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be, As more of heaven in each we see” (33-34).
John Keble’s famous poem calls us to be attentive to the beautiful value of all we see, and to reverence each in light of that value.