The Greatest Gift April 23 2011
I am pulling meat off carcass,
Reviewing bird anatomy,
Mindful that my bones and sinew aren’t so different
From those I’m disassembling on this chicken.
I’m pondering omnivorousness –
On how I come off thinking it’s all right
To devour this chicken’s flesh, to make it mine.
And then I feel grateful for the order of creation,
For the food chain.
We all exchange our gifts with others, giving life,
Each in our own way.
I am thankful to receive the gift this bird has given,
Expression of its mission here on earth.
I eat it, and it gives me strength —
Becomes a part of me as I, in turn,
Share with others my own gifts.
I’m humbled as I ken the ways in which we’re one —
I, the chicken, and the universe.
Reflection:
I’ve never before thought of preparing a cooked chicken as a sacred task. Usually it’s a chore I’d prefer to skip – tedious, greasy, messy. Today, though, for some reason I found myself experiencing a different perspective, honoring the cooked chicken I was about to eat, appreciating the gift it gave to me and understanding that all creatures (perhaps with the exception of cockroaches and poison ivy…) give something of value to others – and all our gifts are needed for the universe to work. The energy wheel that’s the living world is awesomely beautiful and complex, as is every act that we perform in honoring life and love.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
About Rev. Dr. Rosemary C. Hyde,
I am a grandmother, a classical homeopath, a mystical poet, and an interfaith minister. I also have a large, enduring place in my heart for Paris. I first spent time in Paris in 1961, as a Fulbright scholar. I remained in France for three years, living also in Toulouse and in Nancy. I have revisited France and Paris multiple times since then, and have come to know The city and surroundings quite well. I grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where there were many Franco-Americans, and their language fascinated me. I was fortunate in 6th grade, when my family moved, to find myself in a Catholic French speaking girls' school, where I had the wonderful fortune of becoming bilingual. It still feeds my soul deeply, to visit Paris, speak French, and reconnect with the little French girl in me.
I am serving presently as President of the global online Peace Initiative called LivingPeaceNow.Org. We are bringing together worldwide in 3 languages — English, French, and Spanish— small groups of Connected Peacemakers to help deepen and hold Peace globally with their thoughts, words, and actions.
My goal as a minister is to add richness to life for those who resonate to more than one religious tradition or to none -- those with mixed religions as well as the unchurched, untempled, and unmosqued.
All of us, whatever our cultural allegiances, hunger for and need support in finding the transcendent joy that's ours to find in this earthly life. All of us need and want to celebrate beautifully the great and small milemarker moments. All of us crave the beauty of prayer as an expression of our participation in universal love. All of us wish to learn a greater vision, to see our lives opening to the Divine. All of us desire deeply to find serenity and peace that lasts no matter what happens today and tomorrow.
This is the meaning of Transcendessence. We find the essence of spirit and transcend the narrow constraints of our bodies and egos. Join us today by subscribing, so you won't miss a single poem, message, prayer, or meditation. And for more varied and beautiful spiritual resources check out the Living Peace Now Facebook page and our website: http://LivingPeaceNow.Org.
transcendessencedotcom 
Thank you rosemary for sharing your incredible gift of heart & thought.