Sunday, September 09, 2007

Speaking of cats, bears, trees, etc.

There is a lovely post at JN1034 titled Orthodox Prayer for Creatures and Creation. The folks there have begun the new Orthodox ecclesiastical year with a nice emphasis on creation. If you don't know that site, it has lots of interesting posts and link to tons of Orthodox resources.

O God, you are the Giver of all life, the One who has called creatures and all creation into being according to Your love, reflecting your own image, your own breath of life, your own Spirit.

2 comments:

+JN1034 said...

Paul: Thank you for acknowledging our entry into a new ecclesiatical year. Mostly, thanks for noting the prayer. It was written by a Greek theologian (now residing in the States). His words are tight and often unpoetic, but the overall theme speaks about a unified world that we Christians often overlook: That in-with-through Christ, heaven and Earth are united forever, even now in the present, not in some far off apolcalypse or parousial fantasy. The breath of God, the Holy Spirit, is here now, this moment, giving life to every being, holding the chaos in check, and moving us all to an horizon of mystery yet to be revealed, a fulfilled creation where not one iota is overlooked or disregarded. Thank God for God, because who else could take so many billions of human lives over historic time and wipe each tear, and make it all better - all - for each one? God has a lot of work on God's plate, but for God it's a joy. Again, thank you for your kindness and friendship. May God continue to bless you with mercy and grace and humour. +++

Paul said...

It is I who thank you and all my Orthodox sisters and brothers in Christ. Perhaps first for opening my eyes to the role of the Holy Spirit in everything, everywhere, always. Studying, however cursorily, Orthodox liturgical theology back in my Baptist seminary days changed my thinking forever. Δοξα Θεω.

Secondly, perhaps, for you ongoing witness to all-embracing loving-kindness of God.

And always, always for your glorification of the Most Holy and Lifegiving Trinity.

More personally, ever since discovering your site I turn to it eagerly each day. May God bless your witness, your struggles, and your journey in sanctification--yours and that of all creation.