Friday, August 24, 2007

On the Beautiful Blue Danube


Danube so blue, so bright and blue,
through vale and field you flow so calm,
our Vienna greets you, you silver stream
through all the lands you merry the heart
with your beautiful shores.

Far from the Black Forest
you hurry to the sea
giving your blessing to everything.
Eastward you flow,
welcoming your brothers,
A picture of peace for all time!
Old castles looking down from high,
greet you smiling from their steep
and craggy hilltops,
and the mountains' vistas
mirror in your dancing waves.

The mermaids from the riverbed,
whispering as you flow by,
are heard by everything
under the blue sky above.
The noise of your passing
is a song from old times
and with the brightest sounds
your song leads you ever on.

Stop your tides at Vienna,
it loves you so much!
Whenever you might look
you will find nowhere like Vienna!
Here pours a full chest
the charms of happy wishes,
and heartfelt German wishes
are flown away on your waters.

~Johann Strauss II


BEST PICTURE EVER - THE TEAM, SUNSET ON THE BLUE DANUBE

The Danube is the oldest, longest river in Europe, reaching through ten EU countries. The name means "to flow" and alludes to a strong, swift current. That we congregated on it's banks, an intentional, missional, vibrant movement of people with a heart for Europe, seems to me no mistake. I wish I'd known that day all that I know now, but I will never see our day in Vienna the same after learning about this seemingly insignificant at the time venue on the banks of the Danube. May God be heard for years to come as a result of what happened that day on the Blue Danube in Vienna.

2 comments:

megan said...

have i told you i love the way you write? so poetic and beautiful!!!

deanna said...

no, but thanks. of course, it helps that you were there, and you know what I feel!