Earth Day
On this 11th Day of the Great Fifty Days of Easter, I share this brief quote from the Daily Compass: “Life—Easter improbably asserts—can come from death. This might seem like an absurd claim, if nature didn’t tell us exactly the same thing.”
Encircling Prayer with Earth AUDIO LINK
Earth within me, Earth before me, Earth behind me, Earth beneath me,
Earth above me, Earth beside me, Every hour, day and night.
Earth Breathing: This pattern of mindful breathing was suggested by Judith Tripp in a recent webinar for labyrinth facilitators. As you slowly and intentionally breathe in and breath out, inhale and exhale, remember what the inside of our lungs looks like. Within all of our lungs is a pattern that resembles an upside down tree with the windpipe as the trunk and the bronchi and bronchioles resembling bigger and then smaller branches. As you inhale, imagine you are breathing into that trunk and branches and as you exhale the tree is breathing back out into you. We take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. In reverse, the tree takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. Together we breathe in an entwined harmony.
Earth Reflections (Take time. Read slowly. Pause. Listen to earth speaking.)
The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe around us, the less taste we shall have for destruction. (Rachel Carson)
Through me course wide rivers and in me rise tall mountains. And beyond the thickets of my agitation and confusion there stretch the wide plains of my peace and surrender. All landscapes are within me. And there is room for everything. (Etty Hillesum)
That nature is healing, even in times of pandemic. Not only does getting outside boost immunity and offer a balm to our souls, but nature is our best teacher and a source of deep wisdom about how to be fully engaged members of the community of life. (Jenifer Hanson, Prairiewoods Director)
All around us worlds are dying and new worlds are being born;
All around us life is dying and life is being born:
The fruit ripens on the tree;
All roots are silently at work in the darkness of the earth
Against the time when there shall be new leaves, fresh blossoms, green fruit.
Such is the growing edge!
It is the extra breath from the exhausted lung,
The one more thing to try when all else has failed,
The upward reach of life when weariness closes in upon all endeavor.
(Howard Thurman)
Spring’s Resurrection Can’t Be Cancelled in the Church of the Woods
Link Be sure to listen to the song in this link.
A Question for All of Us from Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
What’s the first thing you/and your family will do for nature when we’re done with stay-at-home?
Final Notes for the Day
We will have a belated Earth Day celebration when we have a chance to be back together again. We will rejoice on the beautiful land where we gather, worship, and take joy in the company of one another. We will reschedule the postponed world premiere of Randy’s film about the Waystation: Plants, Pollinators, and Prayers. We have missed acknowledging a number of birthdays, anniversaries, and other festive times during these weeks of our scattering. Today, I would like to mention J.T.’s birthday which happens to be on Earth Day.
Peace, Martha