Good morning sisters and brothers in Christ;
As is often the case, summer rolled by much too quickly. In the blink of an eye, the leaves on the trees have lost some of their greenness and there is a hint of autumn in the air at night. But it does us no good to look back nostalgically to warm summer nights. Rather, we should look forward to the changes that Mother Nature has in store for us. For there is beauty in every season of the year. There is beauty in every day.
My favourite morning prayer comes from the Book of Common Prayer that my wife Nina bought for me at the Canterbury Cathedral in England. Without this prayer, my day would be incomplete.
"The night has passed and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one mind and heart. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day , so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire for love for you."
I took this picture last week. The day had been dull and overcast and late in the afternoon a brief but strong thunderstorm swept through the area. Leaves were torn from the branches and the cornstalks looked like they were dancing in the strong wind. It was awe inspiring. And then quite suddenly, the storm subsided and the sun shone brightly through gaps in the cloud cover. A profound silence fell over the landscape. Through the window I caught sight of a rare triple rainbow.
It would be pointless for me to try to describe it. I do not have the writing ability to do it justice. I will let the picture speak for itself. But even this picture falls short, for it does not include the sounds and smells of farmland after a summer storm. Reminds me of a line from a popular Mexican mariachi song called Guadalajara
" Guadalajara , Guadalajara, hueles a pura tierra mojada."
I stood staring at the rainbows, and it was fascinating to see how they lost their luster as the sun began to dip in the western horizon.
I do not know about you, but seeing a rainbow always fills me with hope. It is a magical moment in which time seems to stand still. It's as though nature is holding its breath, waiting for the right time to exhale.
The dictionary defines hope as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
We all hope for better times to come, for healing, for peace, for good health, etc.
Whatever it is for which you hope, know that God is listening. Know that hope shines when there is darkness in our lives, when our faith is challenged and we feel alone.
We are never alone, sisters and brothers.
Make no mistake.
We are never alone.
(Romans 15:13)
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
Que Diosito me los colme de bendiciones y alegría
Paz
I love you
