In honor of Iowa Gives Green 2024, Iowa IPL will be presenting a series of blessings entitled, “Glorious Green: Blessings of Praise, Hope, and Protection for Creation.” We are excited to share these blessings with you and hope they inspire you to move forward with hope.
Blessing #1: “When the Waters Rise”
When the waters rise around us, when the sun beats down with heat…
When the wind blows swiftly through the trees, it is then that we will see…
Mother Earth is crying, yet we shall not despair…
Let us wrap our arms around her, for creation needs our care
Blessing #2: “Trust in the Earth”
Every day I tend to my garden, flowers and plants galore…My pride, my love, my everything – a fountain of joy she pours
“Need any water?” I asked her one day…”Fertilizer? Weeding?” and to my dismay
She replied, “Leave me be, leave me be, with the wind and the bees! What I need is more simple than it seems…
Leave me alone for a few years time, and when you return all will be fine.”
“Years?!” I replied, I couldn’t believe it. “How on earth will you ever make it?”
“Have a little faith and patience too. Trust in the earth and all will be new.”
So I did as she asked, and the years went by. I left her alone with the earth and the sky.
And when I returned to see her one day, I stared in awe and excitedly said,
“Oh, my garden how much you’ve grown! All the seeds that you have sown…
How much more green, and lush, and plenty!” The garden danced and smiled sweetly,
“See what happens when you leave me be? With the butterflies, the bees, the wind, and the trees?
Return the land to Mother Earth and all living things will see rebirth.“
Blessing #3: “Glorious Green”
Wave, shake, dance, Willow;
surround my soul and make me
free; glorious green