"Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean- the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down– who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

This poem by Mary Oliver called The Summer Day was on my mind this morning. As the meteorologists predict a "Chamber of Commerce Weekend", I began to think of what needed to be accomplished over the next three days. More windows need washed, the laundry is always waiting, I need to clean out some drawers, what is that growing in the refrigerator anyway? Books to be read…piles to be picked up…errands to run…..dinners to cook…..the list goes on.

Here is my prayer: Dear God, help me to kneel down and take time to look at the brown pile of  hundreds,perhaps thousands of ants moving feverishly about in the driveway.What are they doing, anyway? Dear God, cause me to stop and see the inner beauty of the tulips, the intricate details so often overlooked,overshadowed by the brilliance of the outer petals. Dear God, open my eyes to the hostas pushing up with patience and loyalty in their appointed places. Oh, you loyal friends. Dear God, help me to feel the freedom the children in my neighborhood know as they run wildly, laughing, playing, skin happy to be free of so many layers of clothing. Remember, remember. Dear God, make me pay attention! Please…

Dear God, help me to abandon my to-do list and fall down and pray, my heart bursting with awe and gratitude. After all, doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Have a prayerful weekend………