Monday Morning Offering: 6/22

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

I've mentioned this before, Lord,
but it stays in my mind, in my imagination -
and it's such a simple thing: 

it's the leaves on the trees...

 

A month and a half ago
I'd look out my second floor window
and see bare limbs scratching April skies 

where now, 

leafy branches brush puffy clouds 

on each rare day in June...

 

And for all this verdant beauty 

the trees did - nothing -

noting but stand there:
soaking in the springtime downpours,

bathing in the brilliant sunlight, 
drawing moisture from the earth, 

budding branches,

greening leaves,

and fleshing out the glory

that lines my street

and fills my own yard...

The trees did nothing but stand there, Lord
- and you did all the rest...

Would that once or twice each day
I'd just stand there, Lord, 

or maybe sit or even kneel,
soaking in your showers of grace,
drawing up from each day's life
the moisture of your presence 

and bathing in the light that's found
only in the forests 

of my quiet time for prayer...

The trees do nothing but stand there, Lord
- letting you do all the work -
and then their beauty comes
and I find rest 

beneath their broad and shady arms...

Help me make some time each day,

help me find a place
where you and I can meet
and I'll do nothing 

but be still 

and simply rest  

in the quiet, 

in the silence of your presence
where I will bow and pray 

that you'll do, Lord,

what you do best... 

I'll pray you'll give me grace, Lord, 

to welcome all the ways 

you help me stretch and grow:
grace to let your life within me 

bud and leaf and flourish, 

filling my bare branches  

with the life that's only yours to give...

 

Slow me down, Lord:
bring me to a standstill,   

stop me in my tracks
and lift my face to yours;

let me meet you one-on-one,

eye to eye
and heart to heart...

 

Help me just sit quietly

while you do, Lord,

what you do best:

make of me the person

you created me to be...

 

Receive my morning offering, Lord,
and keep me faithful to it;

help me just to be here,

open to the gracious ways

you shape and grow my life each day

in mercy, love and wisdom... 

 

Amen.

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