|
Dear Friends,
As I write this, we mark the beginning of the Season of Creation, this is a time to encounter humility as creatures and responsibility as caretakers. Annually it is from September 1st until St Francis Day on October 4th. This year we are doing a light touch on the season, and I invite you take a look at the webpage of explanation and resources: Season of Creation.
We will liturgically begin this Sunday to use from our Book of Common Prayer, Eucharistic Prayer A. We have been using Prayer B since Pentecost. Prayer A holds a bit more semantic of need, repentance, and responsibility and provision. Ideal concepts in this Season of Creation.
I was reading a poem by Andrea Gibson this morning that I would like to share here in part as a bit of springboard to the season. The poem is called Homesick: A Plea for Our Planet. It may be listened to/watched/or read at Homesick: A Plea For Our Planet — Andrea Gibson: Poet, Writer, Activist, Author
Here is an excerpt, I invite you to be bothered, and humbled -
Why are the keys to our future in the hands of those
who have the longest commutes from their heads to their hearts?
Whose greed is the smog that keeps us from seeing
our own nature, and the sweetness we are here to protect?
Do you know sometimes when gathering nectar
bees fall asleep in flowers? Do you know fish
are so sensitive snowflakes sound like fireworks
when they land on the water? Do you know sea otters
hold hands when they sleep so they don’t drift apart?
Do you know whales will follow their injured friends
to shore, often taking their own lives
so to not let a loved one be alone when he dies?
None of this is poetry. It is just the earth
being who she is, in spite of us putting barcodes on the sea….
We need so much less than we take.
We owe so much more than we give.
Squirrels plant thousands of trees every year
just from forgetting where they left their acorns.
If we aimed to be just half as good
as one of the earth’s mistakes,
we could turn so much around.
Our living would be seed, the future would have roots.
We would cast nothing from the garden of itself.
and we would make the thorns proud.
With Hope,
Lisa+
Season of Creation Collect of the Day, Proper 19
O God, because in our ignorance and selfishness we so often fail to care rightly for your Creation, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may soften and unite our hearts with all living beings who suffer; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
| 
