Nature Meditation — December

This lone evergreen, straight and tall,
lifting its arms gently heavenward,
not perfectly symmetrical but perfectly still
casting a faithful shadow,
has weathered winds and sheltered birds
and creatures small in summer.
In winter, it has welcomed bitter cold
and cradled snow
making a thing of beauty for joyful singing:
Noel, Noel.

May I stand straight, stand tall,
and when I must, stand alone,
arms sheltering and uplifted,
casting my shadow of light and dark:
seasons beautiful
seasons bitter
seasons bitterly beautiful:
evergreen,
rooted deep in You.

Photo byRosalie Siegler CSJ — text by Mary Alban Bouchard CSJ