God of abundance, in the northern hemisphere some are gathering up the miracle of growth that reminds us of the miracle of seeds and soil. Soon we will remember with Thanksgiving, and feast to mark yet another cycle of nourishment. On our laden tables we will survey the fruits of our labor and savor the good before us.
But this abundance is not just seed and soil, not just our labor or our neighbor’s labor. Might we also remember the fungus that enriches the soil, the insects and worms that turn refuse into nutrients, the bees and butterflies that pollinate, the deer and rabbits that prune? Might we remember the raptors and foxes that tame the rodents, the larger predators that trim the herds and even the vultures that clean up death’s mess? Their labor is also expressed at our tables. These creatures are worthy of our thanks. We need them, too.
God, your goodness is so deeply incarnate and expressed lavishly all around us in a complex web of interdependency. It deserves our thanks, awe and humility. Amen.
This message is excerpted from “Seeing abundance” by Catherine Malotky in the November/December 2022 Gather magazine.
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