Happy Summer Solstice!

Oh Holy One,

We give thanks and celebration for the intensity of life that is calling to us today. Your world is a myriad of beautiful things, all perfectly balanced. Our natural world, the Earth is reaching in to us through our shells and calling to us to come immerse ourselves in the pure perfection of its beauty. This is our real world which can only be achieved through your handiwork. We feel at home in nature, able to open up and saturate ourselves in the vitality and joyousness of the living breathing world. Being immersed there is the most natural thing we have felt in a long time. “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both large and small.” (Psalm 104:24-25)

When we connect with our faith, and your love for us, we realize that the Earth is not out to harm us, the Earth is a loving mother with outstretched arms asking us to take our rightful place as her stewards, just as you intended. We release any fear of something being wrong with the Earth, and embrace the inner transformation that a strong connection with the Earth provides. When we feel at one with the natural world, everything that is right and holy just falls into place, all confusion abates and time seems to be on our side again. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Bless us all this day, Father, may we all feel the joyousness of a strong connection to our loving Earth, and may we take up the vital force offered to us, with grace and ease. “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” (Luke 12:27)

In gratitude and loving respect we pray,

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.