dragonfly

As the moth that
dances to the flame,
this flame itself is winged;
a shimmering translucence
of sunlight glistening
as through miniature
stained-glass windows,
the world its chapel,
the lily stalk the altar 
it returns to time and again
to curtsy in obeisance,
measuring Nones
in nanoseconds,
unaware of how mesmerizing
is its ritual of devotion.
Only humans make
pomp and show of their
adorations, craving credit
in observers’ eyes. 
The dragonfly shuns
the limelight, skittishly
retreating into
Vesper’s night.

Liz McFadzean

Why write about nature in the middle of a pandemic, racial reckoning, raging wildfires and a contentious election?  Here are a couple of quotes that speak to that question:

“When nature does what God commanded it to do, nature does what God created it to do, the authority of God is reflected in the sweet and speechless obedience.  Seek obedience.”
                                                                            Christopher Smart

 “The whole earth, all of creation under the singing heavens is filled with the glory of God.  If holiness brings glory into the world, where are you going to look?  You’re going to look at the cockroach, you’re going to look at the ground, you’re going to smell the air, you’re going to look at absolutely everything—because in almost any common thing, the glory of God may strike forth and call your name….You will find God in the places where human beings are lonely or sad or dying….If you seek the glory of God, you will at some time have to walk into the wounds of the nation.”                                                                                                                                                                                    Walter Wangerin, Jr.