Starter Prayer: Spirit of Greenness, bring moistness and vigor to my life so that I might savor the experience of your energy moving through me out into the world. Amen.

Focus Phrase: Green

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

Optional Read-along: Water, Wind, Earth and Fire pp. 92b-95a (Chapter Two: Sister Water, Section: Viriditas.)

Spiritual Direction:

Here in NOCO, we’ve had several days of cooler weather and rain; this spring, we had quite a bit of moisture from abundant snowfall. Our fields and foothills are still green on July 1; however, that will fade to brown through July and August. Nevertheless, we’re loving the green while it lasts!

From Christine Valters Paintner: The twelfth-century mystic and Benedictine abbess Hildegard of Bingen coined the term veriditas (literally greenness), by which she meant the greening power of God. Hildegard used the term to refer to the literal reality of the earth’s geening and fecundity, but also to the soul’s greening. The moister and greener a soul is, the more deeply it is connected to its sacred source. In season, the earth is drenched with rain and greenness, inviting us to consider the dry places of our own souls, needing the gift of vigor and life.

Fire of the Holy Spirit,
life of the life of every creature,
holy are you in giving life to forms…
Rivers spring forth from the waters
earth wears her green vigor

— Hildegard of Bingen

For reflection: How are you being invited to reinvigorate yourself? How might you give yourself the gift of greenness? What practices help to cultivate your vibrancy and verdancy?

For prayer practice: Take a contemplative walk through a forest or park, and pay attention to the color green. How many shades can you identify? Appreciate God’s love through the power of greening. What does green in the creation reflect to you about your own spirit? Reflect on the places you might invite God’s greening power to touch you? Pray for this gift.

Be encouraged in your practice,

Katie Martinez

Endnotes

• For daily texts with the Focus Word, Starter Prayer and link to these daily posts, text the word “journey” to 970-500-0970.
• Are you receiving the weekly guide every Sunday via email? Register here.
• Join the Orange Dots of Hope Facebook Group for spiritual conversations on the journey.

This daily devotion is part of the Summer Growth Journey: Learning to Pray with Nature with Crossroads Church. Many of us are also reading through Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements by Christine Valters Paintner. To purchase a copy, or for more information, email us at [email protected].