St. Basil's Prayer for the Animals

Remaining connected to our surrounding environment, remains one of the things that excites us about moving aboard. For instance, today is a blowy rainy day. We hear the wind in the rigging, feel the boat move to the gusts, and hear the rain hit the deck. Living aboard invites us to pay attention to what is happening around us. We notice when the Harbor is having an algae bloom as the water turns a red. We notice when there has been lots of phosphorescence at night, as oars drip green and wakes glow. We are invited to notice. In the noticing the world around us invites us to join in songs of praise.

Noticing the environment, and indeed environmentalism is nothing new. In fact, I would hazard a guess that a blatant disregard for our environment is a rather recent development. So here is a quote from St. Basil the Great (c. 329-379 ce/ad) inviting us to pay attention, to mourn, the change our ways, and to celebrate with all of creation as the Kingdom of God becomes fulfilled in our midst.

O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, our brothers the animals to whom you gave the earth as their home in common with us. We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion … with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to you in song, has been a groan of travail. May we realize that they live not for us alone but for themselves and for you, and that they love the sweetness of life.

~ St. Basil the Great, c. 329-379 CE