ARLINGTON, March 28, 2011 — Have you ever heard of “The Unclouded Day?” This beautiful song was written in the late 1880s by Josiah Alwood, and it’s one of my favorites.
It takes a bit of imagination to fully appreciate it. When he wrote his lyrics, Mr. Alwood was almost certainly describing his vision of Heaven after we die.
But one can also imagine the words as referring to life on this earth, as life will be when we finally learn to live as our Creator has asked us to do, in guiding us through the fundamental teachings of the major religions.
Imagine that the phrases, “unclouded day,” or “a home where no storm clouds rise,” refer to a world in which no parent ever again beats up his or her own child, physically or verbally.
Imagine a world in which no child ever again becomes the victim of some war or conflict. And imagine a world in which no one wrecks his or her own life by abusing drugs or alcohol. On the positive side, imagine a world in which every set of parents on earth has the resources to feed, clothe and educate their children, and every father and mother has the dedication, determination and wisdom to raise children with patience and love!
Sometimes when I see or sing the phrase, “the unclouded day,” it makes me think of one’s own mind. Having an “unclouded” mind might be seen as being free from thoughts or feelings that pull one down, such as envy, jealousy, depression, guilt or unrighteous anger. It might be seen as being able to feel God’s love in one’s own life, and being able to see the goodness and beauty in all people we encounter. That kind of “unclouded” mind will eventually make us capable of living in happiness and cooperation with other people, with our families and with ourselves! It may sound very optimistic, but I’m convinced it will one day enable all of us in the human family to take care of each other, and of the planet God has given us.
Here below are the words of “The Unclouded Day,” surely a day worth working for:
The Unclouded Day
Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
Oh they tell me of a home far away,
Oh they tell me a home where no storm clouds rise,
Oh they tell me of an unclouded day.
Refrain:
Oh the land of cloudless day,
Oh the land of an unclouded sky,
Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day.
Oh, they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
Oh, they tell me of that home far away,
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom,
Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day.
Refrain
Oh they tell me of a King in His beauty there,
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold,
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold.
Refrain
Oh, they tell me that He smiles on His children there,
And His smile drives their sorrows all away,
And they tell me that no tears ever come again,
In that lovely land of unclouded day.
Refrain
Read more of Clark Eberly’s Stories of Faith in the Communities at the Washington Times
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