Spirit-Tending in the Fast LaneThis seasonal meditation is sponsored by the Spiritual Formation Ministry. We hope it will be a useful tool for staying connected to Spirit in the midst of the busyness of life, to stop and remember who and what matters.
May we suggest that prior to reading the meditation you take a couple of deep breaths, allowing your body to relax and unwind. Then begin reading slowly, giving time for the words to take hold.
April. Spring. New life. The promise of Easter is resurrection and we see it all around us as the earth begins to blossom once again. This spring is not unlike past springs and yet it is as our awareness is raised about global warming and the state of our precious planet. Christians of all stripes, those of other faiths and those of no faith tradition are asking the hard questions about responsibility, honoring, caring for and loving the environment.
The human spirit is inextricably connected to and nurtured by the natural world. There is something missing when we are alienated and cut off from nature. God gave us the natural world for more than its utilitarian capabilities. It does indeed feed us, house us, etc. But it is meant to give us much more; to give us what we can’t find anywhere else. It is meant to nurture us in ways we can know only through experience. Job 12:8 reads. “Speak with the earth, and she shall teach you.”
Poet Mary Oliver writes beautifully about nature. Her poem, “When I am among the trees,” follows.When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness
and discernment, and never hurry through the world,
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “stay awhile”. The light flows from their branches. And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say, “and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.”Reflection Moment: What is your relationship to nature and the natural world? How comfortable are in nature? How much time do you spend outdoors in natural settings during a typical week?
Prayer Moment: God of all creation, help me to see what you want me to see in relation to your world. Help me to become more aware of the world you have created. Amen.We observe Earth Day in April. This year it will surely take on new meaning. Recently, I have read some wonderful books that I recommend for your Earth Day reading and beyond. One by Barbara Kingsolver entitled Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, The Wisdom of Wilderness by Gerald May, and Gift of the Red Bird by Paula D’Arcy. Also of interest is The Earth Charter, a declaration of fundamental values and principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society. For more information, visit www.earthcharterinaction.org.
-Mary Garbesi, Director of Caring Ministries & Spiritual Formation
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