It’s the 3rd of May so why am I wearing a wool sweater, and a thick one at that? Looking at garden catalogs and thinking about spring flowers, we shiver in the cool temperatures hoping it will warm up. This is May, for heavens’ sake, not March. And the dampness from all the rain we had doesn’t help either.
As we think about those flowers we’re going to plant, let’s consider the plants that are native to our area. Beebalm is a favorite, as well as Echinacea, or coneflower are staples in any garden. The nice thing about a garden is that plants pop up where you least expect them because birds drop the seeds they carry. Voila! New plants.
The other nice thing about some native plants is that the deer don’t eat them, unlike hostas, which seem to be a delicacy. They don’t munch on the cardinal flowers, the foam flowers, milkweed, or the columbine, either. The weather forecast looks better for next week, but, who know? It’s New Jersey.
Prayer for the Day
Creator and Sustainer, we are overwhelmed by all we see:
Flower buds opening before our eyes and trees towering above us;
Spirit of Creation, you speak to us through the beauty we see around us:
Even on cloudy and rainy mornings we are thankful for your creation.
Hold us in your heart and strength, loving God, as we search to do your will,
And reflecting your care for all who live on this earth.
In the name of the One who teaches us how to care for others,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Love is letting the world be half tamed. That’s how the rain comes, softly and attentively, and then with unstoppable force.
- Jennifer Grotz, poet, from “Poppies”
Christ wears “two shoes” in the world: Scripture and nature. Both are necessary to understand the Lord, and at no stage can creation be seen as a separation of things from God.
- Duns Scotus Eriugena, Scot-Irish Neoplatonist philosopher (800-877)