This morning's reading is from Numbers 17 where the leaders of Israel brought their walking sticks that represented their individual tribes and laid them before God. These were pieces of wood that were once alive but were now dead. God touches one of them and this dead piece of wood brimmed with life: buds, blossoms and ripe almonds (nourishment).

I couldn't help but cry, "Lord, help us as an Order approach you when we feel like dead wood. Help us to simply lay our hearts and affections before you as we do the offices and cause life to bud and blossom in us. Let us bear fruit that nourishes our own lives, the lives of those close to us and anyone you bring across our path. Lord, hear our prayer." Amen.