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Last Sunday I went
to bird church, or maybe it was river church. Either way, I was greeted by gulls, mallards, heron, cedar wax wings, and approached by Mystery. There were flowers offering praise and beauty in purples and gold. The sky opened space for us, the constant flow of the river whispered ageless truths. I wandered prayerfully then returned and waited, wondering who would offer the benediction. I suspected it might be gull, perched proudly on a rock in the center of the river. But, no. Soundlessly, a single yellow leaf spun down from above, swirling to a resting place in front of my feet: Go in peace. - Wendy Janzen
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ECO-SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
In her book Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer has a chapter called ‘The Gift of Strawberries.’ She writes, "Strawberries first shaped my view of a world full of gifts simply scattered at your feet. A gift comes to you through no action of your own, free, having moved toward you without your beckoning. It is not a reward; you cannot earn it, or call it to you, or even deserve it. And yet it appears. Your only role is to be open-eyed and present. Gifts exist in a realm of humility and mystery – as with random acts of kindness, we do not know their source." (p 23-24) Reading “The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12 Practice During strawberry season, set aside some time to savour a locally grown strawberry. (This practice can be done with other locally grown fruit or vegetables in season.) If you can, pick it yourself. If not, enjoy one from the market or a friend's garden. Hold it gently and reverently in your hands. Pause to give thanks for it – thanks to God and thanks to the plant, the soil, the rain, the sun. Examine its shape and rich colour. Smell it. Feel its texture and delicate skin. Finally, take a bite and taste it. Savour it slowly, enjoying the juicy sweetness. Reflection Take time to reflect on and appreciate the gift of this strawberry. Consider how it connects you to the land on which it grew. Consider how it offers both nourishment and pleasure. Consider how, once you ate it, it became part of you. If you wish, spend some time journaling your reflections, or honouring the experience by offering a prayer, writing a poem, painting a picture, etc. Blessing Blessed be the earth for providing this gift. Blessed be the sun for helping it to grow. Blessed be the wind and birds for carrying its seeds. Blessed be the rain for watering its roots. Blessed be God, giver of all good gifts. - Wendy Janzen God, our Provider,
We praise you for pollinators, for the many beings who are indispensable in bringing food to our tables - birds, bats, beetles, butterflies and bees… Bless native plants - their flowering, fruiting, and feeding of this ecosystem. Bless species at risk: rusty-patched and yellow-banded bumble bees. Bless our attempts to partner in the restoration and health of this land. Bless the web of life, our deep connections, our interdependence, our giving and receiving. Amen - Wendy Janzen Sometimes grandeur is great -
mountains and sunsets and oceans and such... But sometimes all I need is simplicity - a wildflower, a birdsong, a bit of blue sky, my feet connected to the good earth, the colour green, not much to do, someone to sit with, a cup of coffee, a prayer on the breeze - simple sabbath gifts to fill my soul and remind me that ordinary, everyday moments are holy too. - Wendy Janzen Sinking...
I dive beneath dark water, immersed and held briefly in another world. Surfacing, I breathe deeply. Floating face to the sky, with each exhale I sink slightly. I align my body to the sinking sun in the hazy sky; a brilliant orange path glistens across the water, reflects fires burning in the northwest, points right to my feet. My heart sinks with the knowledge we are all sinking, burning, melting choking. God, save us from ourselves. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on the Earth, on the trees, sky, glaciers, communities, and creatures… Save us from this path of self destruction. Save us from sinking into oblivion. You are our bright light, fresh air, quenching rain, enduring solace, solid ground, our hope beyond hope. - Wendy Janzen Wild, Incarnate Christ,
Light of Life - the sun has reached its zenith and we can feel the heat in our bodies. As we stand on the cusp of this sweltering season we give thanks and praise for the gifts of summer - vibrancy and radiance, fruitfulness and playfulness, embodiment and freedom. Open us to the ways you are manifest in creation, Your presence alive and tangible so that we may know you to be here among us not only through head and heart, but also through our bodies. Like plants stretching toward the sun, may we reach for you, as the Source of all being. Enliven us and inspire us as children of the light to grow in maturity, passion, and fullness. Amen. - Wendy Janzen Less than perfect.
These pandemic days, weeks, months... have left me feeling off. Floundering at times for focus, for energy, for direction, for peace. But when I go out and walk, or poke around in the garden, or sit for a bit and just be in the presence of flowers, I breathe deeply and let the worries slip away. I catch glimpses of the freedom they have to be less than perfect and still beautifully, uncomplicatedly, offering themselves to the world as gift freely given and received. That is enough. - Wendy Janzen Self-Guided Summer Solstice Prayer Walk
June 2020 Find a place to walk in nature, preferably in the evening when you can enjoy the long evening on this longest day of the year. Read through the full document before you go, so you have an idea of the flow. (You may want to bring a water bottle with you.) Begin by grounding yourself: take a few deep breaths, release any tension, shake out your body, draw yourself into awareness of your surroundings; feel the earth beneath your feet, and the Divine Presence all around and within you. Before you start to walk, read this opening invitation. Opening Invitation Listen to Earth leaning closer to the sun. to the heat breathing through gardens, Calling plants to fruition, Whispering fulfillment to the flowers. Listen to the growing circle of life. Listen to the green sanctuary of the trees, To young birds testing out their wings. To bare feet and laughter, To Mother Earth bringing food to the table, Listen to songs of leisure and renewal. Listen to the summer of your soul, To the dance of life within you, To creativity that yearns for expression, To the fire that burns in your spirit. Listen to the passion of summer. Listen to the poetry of summer, to the wisdom of the earth, to the presence of God As you walk and pray. (adapted from a blessing by Macrina Wiederkehr) Head out on your walk, prayerfully sauntering at a relaxed pace, aware of what you see, hear, smell, and feel. If you come upon a place that expresses brokenness in any way, stop for a prayer of confession. Pray your own confession, or use the prayer provided. Prayer of Confession Source of all Being, we give you thanks for our watershed, for the Grand River (or Nith River, or whichever watershed you are in), and for all of life that calls this place home-- We think of Heron and Cardinal, Beaver and Raccoon, Smallmouth Bass and Pike, Bullfrog and Turtle. We are grateful for diversity and abundance, and pray that we might be good neighbours among our community of creation. God, we confess that we take our natural surroundings for granted, and that for too long we have been neglectful in our disregard for our ecosystem, not thinking about the costs and consequences of our actions. Move us beyond complacency to a place of compassion and action for our environment and all who live in our watershed. Amen. As you continue our walk, hold in prayer whatever concerns you are carrying with you, be they personal or environmental; prayers for people or for species, or for the earth itself. If you are walking by a body of water, take a moment when you are ready to participate in a symbolic action. If you are not near water, simply choose a place to pour some water from your water bottle onto a plant or the roots of a tree. Symbolic Action At the water’s edge, kneel by the water, cup some water, and pour it back into the river/lake/pond, offering your prayers of concern into the body of water, knowing that God holds our prayers, and holds us, and that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. Continue your walk with a sense of gratitude, and when you finish your walk, offer this closing blessing. Blessing Blessed are you, Creator of all, Blessed are you summer, season of long days, bare feet, beauty, and fruitfulness. Blessed are you, people who walk in the light, Blessed are you, Earth who sustains us, Blessed are you, God of the seasons. Amen. - Wendy Janzen A prayer for the summer solstice ~
Great Spirit of the sun, On this dawning of a new day we turn our faces toward your radiance, looking for your grace to shine upon us. Creator of Light, may your fire burn within us, igniting passion, fueling growth, extending warmth to all with whom we connect this day. On this longest day of the year we celebrate life, abundance, fertility, growth, fruitfulness, ripening, colour, strength, vitality, and richness. We also celebrate this day with the indigenous peoples who have called this place home long before settlers arrived. We pray that we might be good neighbours, good listeners, and good allies as we pray together for reconciliation, for justice, and for the earth we all call home. Let us rejoice in this longest day of light! Amen. - Wendy Janzen |
AuthorReflections, poetry, prayers, and resources written by Wendy Janzen and occasional guests. Archives
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