Earth Day with Saint Francis

"We have to save the earthworm," three children with shovels shouted. As excited as the kids were to dig a hole wide enough for the planting of their Earth Day peach tree, they all stopped when one boy spotted the wiggly, mud colored-explorer. With careful precision, he lifted the worm and a pile of dirt out. "Brother Worm," Franciscan Brother Mike said as he nodded. The other children cleared a space for the rescued creature.

Earlier at Danville, California's San Damiano Retreat Center' Earth Day event, the children had heard from Brother Mike how St. Francis felt all creatures, no matter how small, are our brothers and sisters. Right away, as they dug in the ground, the kids had a chance to become that family with all created things. 

I pray that this spirit continues to grow in their hearts as the peach tree they planted reaches to the sky. 

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