Daily Meditation for October 23, 2025

Elizabeth Barret Browning wrote these provocative lines:

“The earth is ablaze with the fire of God

But only those who see it take off their shoes;

The rest sit around

And pick black berries.”

Two worthy tasks. But if we consider the second, what have we done today to take off our shoes in the presence of the fire of God blazing in our gardens and fields, our bouquets of zinnias, purple asters, monarch butterflies, the beautifully laden table being prepared for a hungry family … or the faces of a child, a spouse or a guest? Do we consciously slow down in order to see? Are we capable of slowing down? Do we want to see? At least, I don’t want to sit around just picking blackberries or be negative about a neighbor or our government or the church when I could rest beside a burning bush or even the holy ground I am standing on! How about you?

By Renee Domeier, OSB