The Sacraments

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 had found.

And I just smiled and said, "Yes, dear,
you understand:

everything imparts
His grace."

I suppose in many ways this poem by Daniel Ladinsky, subtitled “A Meditation on the Experience of St. Francis of Assisi” and found in his book Love Poems from God:Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West, is an extension of Katie’s meditation from last Friday.

Squirrels are running around wildly right now on campus, bulked up and busy, preparing for the winter. There is so much that needs to be done that is invisible to us, but of infinite consequence to them. On this planet, we are each deeply engaged in our own dance and drama, of sacrament and of survival. None of those can claim to hold the center. But if we recognize that, we can also appreciate that each reflects it.

--The Rev. Barbara Talcott

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