Tomatoes

It's a busy time in the garden these days, and moodling is happening off-screen rather than online. For the first time in ages, I missed moodling a Sunday reflection. So to make up for it, I'd like to share a wonderful prayer by Michael Leunig, from his book A Common Prayer (©1990 Dove - Harper Collins,

ISBN 0 85924 933 6). Even though it's coming on time to harvest tomatoes rather than plant them, it's a wonderful prayer:

It is time to plant tomatoes. Dear God, we

praise this fruit and give thanks for its life 

and evolution. We salute the tomato, cheery,

fragrant morsel, beloved provider, survivor

and thriver and giver of life. Giving and

giving and giving, Plump with summer's joy.

The scent of its stem is summer's joy, is

promise and rapture. Its branches breathe

perfume of promise and rapture. Giving and

giving and giving.

Dear God, give strength to the wings and

knees of pollinating bees, give protection

from hailstorms, gales and frosts, give warm

days and quenching rains. Refresh and 

adorn our gardens and tables. Refresh 

us with tomatoes.

Rejoice and rejoice! Celebrate the scarlet

soul of winter sauces. Behold the delicious

flavour! Behold the oiled vermilion moons

that ride and dive in olive bobbing seas of 

vinegared lettuce. Let us rejoice! Let this 

rejoicing be our thanks for tomatoes.

Amen.