Thursday, March 2, 2023

St David & the Call to Simplicity

 


How did I miss it! Yesterday was St. David's Day and somehow I was unaware of the occasion to honour my namesake until I saw a tweet which included the stained glass piece above and the acknowledgement of the day. It's called "Spring", which suggests the weather is a little different in Wales than Southern Ontario. 

David was born in Wales at the beginning of the sixth century and had a broad influence as an evangelist and establishing monastic communities. His emphasis was on livng a simple, moderate life, abstaining from the desire to own more and more unneeded material possessions in order to discover true happiness. Legend has it that during a famous sermon a white dove settled on his shoulder and at the conclusion he offered, "do the little things in life". 

A call to simplicity and contentment rather than over-consumption is a worthwhile message for all of us Groundlings in the midst of an environmental crisis. And when we feel overwhelmed by the insignificance of our efforts we can do this little things which honour Creation and Creator. 


A Victorian stained glass window depicting Saint David blessing a hive of bees 

as they are about to be shipped to Ireland by Domhnog.

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