Celtic people had a natural capacity for rejoicing, so it is not surprising that praise, celebration and thanksgiving was the foundation of their relationship with God. This twelfth century poem expresses that desire to praise God in perfect form:
My speech – may it praise You without flaw; my heart love You, King of Heaven and earth.
My speech – may it praise You without flaw; make it easy for me Great Lord to do You all service and adore You.
My speech – may it praise You without flaw; Father of all affection, hear my poems and my speech.
As you go through my days in these dark times, I‘m opening my heart to happily observe that there are reasons for praise everywhere I look:
- A calf standing in the green grass, surveying all around him
- A few yellow feathers in the tail of a chaffinch
- The sun casting soft shadows on the hills
- A mighty oak tree adorning the countryside
- The freshness of the air after a thunder storm
- The community of mushrooms that grew in the night
- Or some of the myriad things that do me good: a forgiving word, an understanding smile, a warm greeting, a piece of music………………
What about you?
As we give thanks for the gift of light and life each day, we sense the goodness of being able to praise and feel deeply. And so, in the spirit of the poet, Kahil Gibran we say: I arise with a winged heart and give praise and thanks for another day of loving.
B. O’ S