Food for the Soul | February 3rd, 2021

2/3/2021 

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Dear Friends,  

How did you experience the snow storm? With trepidation or anxiety? Perhaps you enjoyed the stillness of it all. I went out for a few minutes and truly felt the stillness of the universe around me. This morning I looked at the trees and an interesting thought struck me. They are bearing a lot of snow on their branches, yet they don’t complain; they may be boughed down a bit but they all carry their part. Their shared collective strength enables them to do so. As I contemplated how the branches of the trees shared their burdens the following scriptural passage came to mind: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). We have all gone through, and are still experiencing, difficult times. We can heed Jesus’ compassionate invitation to confide in Him, lighten our burden and find rest for our soul. We can also confide in a close friend to unburden our soul. Anytime we allow ourselves to open up to someone and pour out all our sorrows we are doing exactly what Jesus encourages us to do. We don’t have to carry it alone. It is very cathartic. Sometimes this is all we need for our inner peace. 

 

 

PRAYER 

 

Canticle — Daniel 3:57-88, 56 

 

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. 
Praise and exalt him above all forever. 

…………………………………………….. 

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. 
All you winds, bless the Lord. 
Fire and heat, bless the Lord. 
Cold and chill, bless the Lord. 
Dew and rain, bless the Lord. 
Frost and chill, bless the Lord. 
Ice and snow, bless the Lord. 
Nights and days, bless the Lord. 
Light and darkness, bless the Lord. 
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord. 

…………………………………………….. 

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever. 
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. 
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever. 

 

PRACTICE  

 

My suggestion for this week is to call someone. Maybe a dear friend, a close relative; or perhaps someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Share your joys and difficult times with her/him; and then listen deeply to the other person. Take your time; don’t rush through the conversation. After the conversation sit in silence for a moment and linger with him/her still in your mind.  

 

 

POEM 

 

On the Necessity of Snow Angels 

For the Well-Being of the World  

  • Grace Butcher 

 

Wherever there is snow, I go, 

making angels along the way. 

Luckily angels have no gender 

and are easier to make 

than you might think. 

 

All you have to do is let go, 

fall on your back, 

look up at the sky as if in prayer. 

Move your arms like wings. 

Move your legs to make a robe. 

Rise carefully so as to do no harm, 

and walk away. 

 

All the angels along the path behind you 

will sparkle in sunlight, gleam under the stars. 

In spring the angels will be invisible 

but really they are still there, 

their outlines remain on the earth 

where you put them, waiting 

for you and the snow to return. 

 

Keep walking, 

towards the next beautiful thing 

you will do. 

Kyle Picha