Five images from yesterday

 

Love and fear revisited

From A Common Prayer 
by Australian humourist and cartoon artist Michael Leunig 
(Dove, Harper Collins 1990, ISBN 0 85924 933 6) 

Today, in love, I stand firmly with those in my city's 2SLGBTQIA+ community, especially my own kids and their friends. I witnessed how strong they were in facing the anger and fear emanating as insults, abuse, bullying, and some very unfortunate flying debris from the angry and fearful "parental rights groups" rallying across the road. My love and respect for the solid and compassionate young adults around me this morning is boundless.

I was grateful to be part of this morning's event, but was also broken-hearted because of the abuse suffered by our 2SLGBTQIA+ family members and friends, simply because they express their love or gender differently and want to protect younger people like themselves from insults, abuse, violence, or homelessness just for being who they are or loving as they do.

If there had been less anger on the other side -- and I hadn't been so afraid myself -- I would have liked to invite some of the "others" to go for coffee so we could listen to each others' experiences and understand each other's point of view. 

No matter which side we are on, we shouldn't have to be afraid of each other. It gets us nowhere.

If you know anyone who is feeling the effects of today's anger and fear, send them some love. If you want to have coffee with me, just say the word. We can listen to each other.

Sunday Reflection: Prayer for creation with the four directions

September is the Season of Creation, and this morning the inner-city Community of Emmanuel prayed this prayer with the four directions: 

Let us turn our hearts to the East
The morning Sun begins each day there
Creator God, awaken us and help us to walk with renewed life

Let us turn our hearts to the South
Where the warm winds come from to give us comfort and joy
Creator God, soothe our aching souls

Let us turn our hearts to the West
From there the clouds bring us cleansing rain
Creator God, heal us and our relatives

Let us turn our hearts to the North
Winter comes from there and calls us to rest
Creator God, restore our strength

Let us turn our hearts to the Sky
From there Creator sees all around us
Creator God, help us to trust you to lead us

Let us turn our hearts to the Earth
From there quiet wisdom comes to teach us
Creator God, hear us as we pray to you

+Amen, let it be so.

(Adapted from the Season of Creation Ecumenical Prayer Service)

If you are looking for more creation-based prayer between now and the October 4th Feast Day of St. Francis, patron saint of ecology, here are some wonderful resources, and this link will lead you to a special prayer card.

If you're in my neighbourhood, we are having our annual Ecumenical Prayer for Creation in the style of Taizé on Sunday, September 17th, 7-8 p.m. at St. Luke's Anglican Church, 8424 95th Avenue. All are welcome!

After a summer like the one we are having, our earth needs more than prayer, but prayer is a good place to start because it changes us. 

Let Justice and Peace Flow.

Cornelia stands alone

Well, not quite. At least, not right away.

This morning when I dismantled Cornelia the scarecrow's three sisters' raised bed (of "corn, beans, and squash the patriarchy," as my friend Quinn's hoodie says), I discovered the rest of the produce that was growing at her feet. I was also amused to see that one of the bean plants grew right around her compact disc left hand!

Cornelia's collection:
One large field pumpkin, three pie pumpkins,
three spaghetti squash, three kabocha squash, 
the last pail of scarlet runner beans 
and a few little leeks that lost sight of the sun!

We enjoyed several feeds of peaches and cream corn and lots of yummy scarlet runner beans thanks to Cornelia's vigilance, and will also have some good pumpkin soup and baked squash over the next while. Maybe I'll make a pie.

Now that her "charges" have moved indoors, Cornelia deserves a rest from her labours. She's moved into our sunny greenhouse space, where she can keep an eye on the birds' comings and goings through the winter.

Good work, Cornelia. Just so you know, the sparrows are already missing your garden domain's many hiding places.