Daily Devotion - Wednesday, January 26

A Few Minutes Please

“What is humankind that you should be mindful of us?”
--Psalm 8: 5

Today I'd like to continue thinking about the significance of creation. We are part of a cosmic community. I find it helpful to remember that the Creator who set all time and space in motion created us in community with the rest of the cosmos. Stopping to affirm this concept and spending time with it can really be empowering. Here is a little story from the life of St. Francis who often took time to pray with the creatures of the cosmos:

When Francis was hurrying across the Lake of Rieti to the hermitage of Greccio, out of devotion a fisherman offered him a waterfowl. He took it gladly and opened his hands to let it go, but it did not want to. He prayed for a long time with his eyes turned to heaven. After more than an hour, he came back to himself and gently told the bird again to go away and praise God. Having received his permission with a blessing, the bird expressed its joy in the movements of its body, and flew away.

For some, this tale may be difficult to take seriously. The problem is probably not in the story, however. Realizing the integrity and sacredness of creation opens new dimensions for living, especially with chaos. We are a small, small part of a splendid work of creativity. Thanks to a power beyond us for the gift of creation.

--Ben Keckler
01.26.11