Poem 133: The Summer Day
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
—Mary Oliver
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Aloha St. Andrew’s,
It is good to be back home as these summer days begin to wane and the preparations for the program year at the Cathedral and the school year at St. Andrew’s Schools begin to energize. Potentialities, possibilities, and promise abound. I hope and pray you tap into the wonder and imagination God has for you and consider what it is you are being called to do with your ‘wild and precious’ life in Christ!
As we move into August, there are many opportunities for you to explore your faith more deeply – Sunday morning “Window Talks” between the services, midweek study, prayer and worship, and upcoming liturgical trainings and invitations: for chalice bearer, altar guild, acolyte, usher -- And be on the lookout for an upcoming volunteer opportunity to be a Cathedral docent and help to tell our Cathedral story!
If you are sensing a call to Baptism or Confirmation, do not hesitate to let me know – we have upcoming opportunities for both in the coming months.
Enjoy these remaining summer days~~
The Peace of Christ be with you,
Canon Heather+
PS -- Interested in joining me in my reading list for school? Pick up Sandra Schneiders' Written That You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel! I'll be working through it this fall.
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
