A prayer by Bonnie Owens

Mary Oliver’s essay “Bird” is a beautiful meditation on nature and the value of living in the present moment. In this essay, Oliver recounts the story of a black-backed gull that she found badly injured on the beach on a cold Christmas morning. Despite the bird’s broken wings and starved body, Oliver nursed it back to health with food, water, and company. The bird’s resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to the power of embracing the present moment and facing obstacles with grace and courage.

Resilience, even radical resilience, is needed this year as we face the upheaval at Spirit of Grace— nationally, internationally, and perhaps in our own lives.

Let us pray: God of strength, grace, and mercy, we know you are with us and in us as we journey through these times. Open our hearts to all we can do to grow in resilience, to be resilient, and act courageously today and in the future ahead. Amen.