Daily Devotion - Monday, July 11

Learning from Mother Earth

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it.”
--An ancient song, Psalm 24:1

Sometimes we struggle with drought and pray for rain. A good rainfall would be welcome right now. Today we turn to a prayer of the Ute, a Native American tribe who learned so much from Mother Earth.

“Earth teach me stillness as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring as the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone.
Earth teach me limitation as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness as dry fields weep with rain.”

A prayer: Creator God, guide my learning from your good earth. Amen.

--Ben Keckler
07.11.11