Food for the Soul | September 30th, 2020

9/30/2020 

  Dear Friends, 

The flowers in the photo are my birthday bouquet. Yes, I turned another year. I am a true autumn child; I love the fall and all the beautiful colors that nature regales us with. The spring and the summer are over, and so is their constant drive towards growth and being active. Now a more quiet and silent season sets in, the ideal time for introspection. I started reflecting on all the years that have passed and I felt an enormous sense of gratitude come over me. Not everything has been rose-colored, but the beautiful aspects prevail. I am grateful for how my life has developed, for all the opportunities it has given me, for the beautiful friendships I have, for my family life, my husband and our (now grown) children. Let me not forget the wonderful people at Trinity Church. My life has been incredibly rich and diverse. And it is not yet over….. 

 We never know what God has in mind for us, but if we listen deeply to that inner voice, the voice of God, we will remain on the right path. Let us be grateful. Meister Eckhart once said: 

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘Thank You,’ it will be enough.   

 PRAYER 

 Tapestry of Life 

Creator God, 

You make all things 

And weave them together in an intricate tapestry of life. 

Teach us to respect the fragile balance of life and 

     to care for the gifts of your creation. 

Guide by your wisdom those who have power and authority, 

That, by the decisions they make, life may be cherished 

And a good and fruitful earth may continue to 

     show your glory and sing your praises. 

Almighty God, 

You have called us to tend and keep the garden of your creation. 

Give us wisdom and reverence for all your plants and animals 

Who share this planet with us and whose lives 

     make possible our own. 

Help us to remember that they too love the sweetness of life. 

And join us in giving you praise. 

PRACTICE 

 Practicing Gratitude 

Be grateful this week. I encourage you to reflect about all the good things that are happening these days, how they are affecting your life. You may wish to think about the end of summer and the transition into fall. What changes do you envision? What joys do you anticipate? How does it feel to let go of summer? Be grateful. This weekend we will celebrate the feast of St. Francis with a virtual blessing of the animals. Do join in and have your pets blessed. But St. Francis was about more than animals; he showed us how to love all creatures, including us humans regardless of our station in life. Be grateful. Whenever there is a change in your life (birthday, new child or grandchild, new school, new home, new season, etc.) take stock of your life. How have you honored your dreams? What hopes do you have for the new phase of life that is unfolding before you? Be grateful. Remember, that just like every creature on this earth we are guests passing through.  

POEM 

The Moment 

Margaret Atwood 

The moment when, after many years 

of hard work and a long voyage 

you stand in the centre of your room, 

house, half-acre, square mile, island, country, 

knowing at last how you got there, 

and say, I own this, 

is the same moment when the trees unloose 

their soft arms from around you, 

the birds take back their language, 

the cliffs fissure and collapse, 

the air moves back from you like a wave 

and you can’t breathe. 

No, they whisper. You own nothing. 

You were a visitor, time after time 

climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming. 

We never belonged to you. 

You never found us. 

It was always the other way round.