Yesterday afternoon and indeed the early part of the week will give gardeners an extra lease on life—like me. Caught off guard by the cool, even cold nights of last week, I frantically moved plants inside, not by the light of the silvery moon but by the floodlights on the back deck.
Tasking care, good care, of a garden is like taking care of a child – it requires constant attention and, this year in spite of my best intentions, I’ve not done that. In the spring we look at plants and think, Gee, I’d like that in my garden, but our best intentions don’t pan out. They usually don’t pan out in other areas as well, but the nice thing about a new day is that it gives you another opportunity to live out your best intentions.
A new day gives us new opportunities to repair what we’ve neglected before. It may be something as simple as repotting a plant or as difficult as repairing a relationship that has been broken.
Prayer for the Day
You know us, O God, our thoughts, our actions,
What we choose to do, and what we choose not to do;
Although at times we seek to fly from your Presence,
We know we cannot do so even as much as we try.
Open our eyes to the new day with its new opportunities,
Heling us to repair our persons and the world beyond.
In the name of the One who is open to us,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings
Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher 6th century BCE
Everyone has something to contribute to this world. It’s just a matter of being given that opportunity to do so.
Grace Hightower, American philanthropist
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth.
From everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn us back to dust, ad say, “Turn back you mortals.”
For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past,
Or like a watch in the night, you sweep them away; they are like a dream,
Like grass that is renewed in the morning, flourishing and renewed,
But in the evening it fades and withers.
Psalm 90: 1-6