Saturday, March 27 – Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit … Harvest of Living – By H. Leffler

Deuteronomy 24:19-21 … leave what remains
Psalm 96:11-13 … all the trees of the forest sing for joy
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 …you will be enriched in everything
Revelation 22:1-2 … the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nation

Writing in the spring of 2020, the world is very different from what we have known. In the midst of physical distancing and social isolation, a new world has opened up. Amidst the very real fears and anxieties about the virus and its impact on the economy, there is something new happening.

Skies that are usually filled with smog have cleared. Canals that had been murky because of water traffic are clear. My cousin who has always walked on a track in their condo has been walking on the road in the midst of the city and seeing foxes and turkeys on lawns. People around the world are sharing similar sightings. In a world where people were despairing that there was nothing that we could do to stop the devastation of climate change, there is new hope.

In neighbourhoods, strangers are walking on streets that are usually empty, smiling and speaking to one another. People are playing music for essential workers and their neighbours. Sidewalk chalk messages, painted rocks and signs in windows offer messages of gratitude and hope. People are preparing meals for strangers and looking for ways to reach out.

Suddenly people who had been focussed on themselves and work are asking about their neighbours not just next door but across the country and around the world. The earth is reminding us that there is enough for all if we would only share as God commanded the Israelites. Our response to this virus – caring for each other and the earth – may give us a taste of God’s kingdom where the tree of life produces a different fruit each month and the leaves bring healing to all the nations. May it be so.

For Reflection and Journaling:
1. Where can I reach out and make a difference for someone else?
2. Where do I see signs of God’s healing in the world?

Meditative Prayer:

Holy One, you have gifted us with a world that has enough for everyone.
May we reach out in love to one another
so that your kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.