As I write, I am taking a few vacation days to rest. I have lots to write about but have decided to honour these days of going slower with no expectations. The staff have so graciously stepped forward to help with the blog to encourage those who read the senior's blog.
Today we have devotional from Brendon:
This is the view from my home-office, where I have spent most of my time
over the past four months. Those trees and that view have been there all
along, ever since we've lived in this house, but I've became much more
acquainted with them during this season of COVID-19. When I started working
from home back in March, the trees were without leaves.
But as I've sat here daily at my desk, for prayer and for work, for reflection and conversation, I've watched the leaves emerge and unfold in all their glorious green splendour. I have noticed many birds and butterflies and bees and bugs. They come and go unbidden, all passing through and pausing, finding rest and shelter and provision in those branches. As I have paused many times to notice, to pay attention, I have also given thanks and praise to God, our Father, for the goodness and beauty of his creation.
Three pieces of writing come to mind:
The heavens declare the
glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4
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Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.
From "Aurora Leigh" by Elizabeth
Barrett Browning
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Glory be
to God for dappled things –
For skies of couple-colored as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in a stipple upon trout that
swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change;
Praise him.
Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins
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There's nothing special about the trees outside my window, and yet, they have been, for me, "prompts for praise" and "aids to adoration" of the One who made it all.
What's
prompting you to praise these days?
What aids you in your adoration of the Lord of all creation?
May we all grow in our capacity to pay attention to the presence of our God
that permeates his creation, and to join in his praise and adoration!
Your brother in Christ,
Brendon
Thank you Brendon for writing the blog post for this week. If you would like to drop Brendon a note his email is bgibson@ebap.ca
Blessings and stay safe, Robin
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