July Prayers | On Gardening

“ I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love.”

— Song of Songs 5:1

While most of us are not farmers, many of us are backyard or container gardeners and most of us are enjoying fresh local vegetables and flowers this month. What if we saw the tilling and the eating and the savoring as prayer? As a slow and intentional activity that connects us with our sustaining Creator, the fertile earth and one another. May you have moments to meditate in a garden, in front of some flowers or while eating fresh produce with loved ones this month.

The Gardener

by Mary Oliver

Have I lived enough?
Have I loved enough?
Have I considered Right Action enough, have I come to any conclusion?
Have I experienced happiness with sufficient gratitude?
Have I endured loneliness with grace?

I say this, or perhaps I'm just thinking it.
Actually, I probably think too much.

Then I step out into the garden,
where the gardener, who is said to be a simple man,
is tending his children, the roses.

Enjoy this beautiful documentary about the vision of farmer and author, Wendell Berry.