St. Anthony on the Desert Episcopal Church
  • Home
  • Belong Believe Become
  • About Us
    • Our Mission and Vision
    • Getting Started
    • Meet the Staff
    • Keeping in Touch
  • Worship
    • Order of Service
    • Recent Sermons
    • Live Streaming via YouTube
  • Financial Giving
    • Make a Pledge
    • Online Giving
    • Legacy Society
  • All the News
  • Making God Connections
    • Wednesday Bible Study
    • Circles of Grace
    • Monthly Musings from a Deacon on the Way
    • Inspire Labyrinth and Gardens
    • Prayer Ministry
  • Reflections on the Way
  • Making a Difference in Our World
    • Outreach Grants
    • East Valley Men's Center
    • Habitat for Humanity
    • Haiti Ministry
    • Healthy Packs
    • Make a Difference Day
    • Needlecrafts for Needs
  • Making Social Connections
    • The Arts Council
    • Avid Readers
    • The Blessings of Belonging
    • Seasoned Saints
  • On the Way Moments Podcast
  • Childrens Ministry
    • Registration for Children
    • Children's Safety
    • Sunshine Acres Outreach
    • Feed My Starving Children
  • Youth (6th-12th Graders)
    • Registration for Youth
  • Pastoral Care
  • Photo Album
  • Major Life Events
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation
    • Death of a Loved One
    • Weddings
  • Walking the Mourner's Path
  • Blessing of the Animals
#stanthonydesert

March 13th, 2020

3/13/2020

0 Comments

 
A Poem by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM

Lock down.
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan (China) after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi (Italy)
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighborhood.
So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way.
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.

So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

 - Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM March 13th 2020
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Saint Anthony on the Desert ~ 12990 E. Shea Boulevard ~ Scottsdale, AZ 85259
480.451.0860 ~ email: communications@st-anthony.net