A day in silence...

Morning Prayer and St Francis’ Canticle of the Sun

(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canticle_of_the_Sun)

“We praise you, my Lord with all your creatures especially Brother Sun...”

The Sun silent and present. Speaking no words, yet life-giving and radiant.

“Praise be you, my Lord, through Sister Water...”

We sit beside this beautiful lake, we immerse ourselves in her cold clear water and she is silent. Speaking no words. Present, radiant, life-giving.

“Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and who produces varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs...”

We walked through the forest filled with trees awakening to spring,  with flowers and herbs.

All silent.

All radiant.

All life-giving.

The silence enfolds us and perhaps we will let it fill us and as we wait , we long. We long with God’s gift of longing. A longing no words can truly express. It must be felt deep in our hearts. Can I, can you feel that longing? A longing as deep and as natural as longing for our next breath.

And what good are we to this broken world if we are silent, our mind may cry?What good? What good is it to feel the silent cool of a rock, or feel the silent yearning of a tree towards the light?

We shared together the pain of our wounded continent and know our call to heal the wounds of Europe. Our silence in the silence of creation restores our souls, and teaches us to listen and to watch for the Holy. How else will we bring healing to our continent?

Penny Warren

Photo: Penny Warren

Photo: Liina Sander

Creating in silent companionship