-The Nightingale

Then the Nightingale sang, and so enchantingly that the tears came into the Emperor’s eyes and ran down over his cheeks. The Nightingale sang a second time, and still more sweetly, and the song went straight to the heart. The Emperor was so well pleased that he said the Nightingale should have his golden slipper to wear around its neck. But the Nightingale thanked him and said that it had already received sufficient reward.

“I have seen tears in the Emperor’s eyes–that is rich compensation. An Emperor’s tears have a peculiar power. I am rewarded enough!” And again its throat trembled and there was a glorious burst of song.

Psalm 84:1-4

What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!

I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,

Always dreamed of a room in your house,

where I could sing for joy to God-alive!

Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,

sparrows and swallows make nests there.

They lay their eggs and raise their young,

singing their songs in the place where we worship.

God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!

How blessed they are to live and sing there!

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(See more pairing of Scripture with the works of Hans Christian Andersen in Hans Christian Andersen Illuminated by the Message)