A reflection by Sr Lynne fcJ from FCJ Centre St Hugh’s, in Liverpool, first appeared in the FCJ Sisters Blog
Last autumn when I was clearing away the dead summer flowers and making some efforts to tidy up the garden I saved a bowl full of wildflower seeds and threw them on the cobblestones of our back alleyway. (Its a place no-one uses anymore except to fly tip rubbish! I would love to have the time and energy to tackle the fly tipping, but in reality I can only do a clear up on occasion and much of what gets dumped needs to be cleared by the council and so rarely gets shifted.)
My little action of seed bombing has created a haven this spring for bees and other pollinators – the wildflowers easily took root in between the cobbles and we have a small meadow in this undisturbed area.
In the front garden we have also done some ‘rewilding’ leaving a nettle patch and brambles, and the increased insect population has encouraged nesting birds; we have three different nests – magpie, sparrow and blackbird.
It makes me realise how simply we can make a little space for nature.
A prayer for our earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.
Laudato Si´ #246
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Photos by Sr Lynne fcJ
