The Least

Luke 17:5-10

The least, this is what we are doing by blessing our pets today. We are recognizing the importance they play in our lives. In giving love unconditionally even when we don't treat them the best. This is what St. Francis embody in his own life. He gave up everything to focus on the least and our connection to creation.

Most of the time we look at St. Francis as the person who talked to the animals. St. Francis though started his own order. This order had writings that it lived by. These were not only the vow of poverty but also our connection to all living things. So as we end our season of creation it is fitting that St. Francis is the rounding out of this season.

We need to be reminded of connection in a world that doesn't see the importance of connection. Last week I was traveling to Gardiner to be a part of the Committee on Indian Relations. I had been a part of this committee before I left for Missouri and want to renew my connection with them and the work we do with connection to the Wabanaki of Maine. As I was riding up I noticed the trees and the connection to this land and became inspired, as I often do, with these words.

Sometimes the beauty of it just invades my soul.

The fiery sprays on the trees, even in the mist,

Seems to glow and speak its own language.

There is a knowing of being attached to this place,

This very ground.

 

We take it away from us little by little thinking

We don’t need the grounding, and we cut the

Umbilical cord of healing. So, we do violence

To our Mother, and don’t realize the impact.

Because we have traveled too far from the roots

Which formed and made us connected to this ground.

This soil in which we were formed and made.

 

Don’t get dirty, wash your hands, don’t play in the puddles.

It starts with these small words and turns us away from the joy.

The joy of listening to the trees or jumping in the rain.

Dancing in the field of flowers, bowing our heads with them.

Playing in the snow and hearing the crack of coldness.

All the joys of this place, this ground, this being connected.

So go and laugh, run, walk, dance and feel your being

Become grounded in this Earth and know your oneness.

     So many of my words come from being connected with the out of doors. It is this faith in connection with one another and the Earth which St. Francis wanted us to know. Not that he was special because he could talk with creation, we can too. We just have to take the time to listen and be invited into knowing the root of where our connection to this Earth lies. Be grounded and have faith and it will grow in you.