A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 10/3

From my second floor windows I watch squirrels scampering over the roof of my garage and scurrying from tree to tree. I imagine they're getting ready for winter days ahead of us.

This puts me in mind of these few lines which have been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast we'll celebrate tomorrow (October 4).

I once spoke to my friend, an old squirrel,
about the sacraments.

He got so excited and ran into a hollow in his tree
and came back holding some acorns,
an owl feather and a ribbon he found.

And I just smiled and said,
"Yes, dear, you understand:
everything imparts His grace."

Let's pause for prayer...

Lord,
help me find the "acorns, feathers and ribbons"
revealing you and your grace
in my life,
today...

Make me grateful for the smallest ways
you show your face,
touch my heart
and leave small traces of your presence
by my side...

Let me find my joy in simple gifts:
in autumn leaves and breezes,
in apples, squash and pumpkins,
in the sacramental moments of this day...

Help me treasure all the ways
the world around me shows your hand
imparting grace in all the outward signs
of everything you've made...

Yours the earth and all it holds,
the world and all who dwell here!*

I rejoice in your creation:
in all things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
in all things wise and wonderful:
Lord God, you made them all!**

Amen.

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Refrain:

All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful:

the Lord God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens,

each little bird that sings,

God made their glowing colors

and made their tiny wings.

2. The purple-headed mountains,

the river running by,