Brother Richard

Welcome back.

In today's meditation, we're going to take as a point of consideration one of the most important teachings within the Franciscan tradition.

This is the understanding of what we call the ladder of creation.

This is particularly true with regard to the animals.

While Saint Francis is known especially for his love of animals,

It's the recognition that each of these beings is in some way a lesson to us, is in some way an invitation to us to learn deeply the lessons of creation.

So let's begin.

Entering into stillness, we come consciously and deliberately to our time of meditation.

We let go of the distractions, the events that were before this time, the things that may come after.

We enter into this gift, this time together to reflect, to open our hearts, to enter stillness.

Settling ourselves now

We recognize that this present moment contains not just us, but all that exists, all that is being held in being.

And so by tuning ourselves to the present moment in awareness, we are part of the great connected chain of being that is always present,

and always open to our awareness within the present moment.

Relaxing the body, settling into our seat, we open our heart and mind to the breath, feeling again its rhythm, its rise and fall.

touching it once again as the measurement of the tide of our life.

The breath comes in, the breath goes out.

Each cycle, an encounter with the present moment.

Each rise and fall, a cycle of breath that will never come again.

Breathing in, we dwell in the awareness of the in-breath.