A blessing on the Water: Delaware River

Good Morning,

 

I am honored to stand before you on this monumental occasion on behalf of the people of Waterfront South, the City of Camden, and the Delaware River Watershed.

 

I never thought I would see this day come when the walls of industry would fall and this great connection with the life giving waters of the Delaware River, our mother would break through the cracks of this concrete with her roots

 

I am greatful for the vision of Helene Pierson, Andy Kricun, and of course Father Doyle to make this a reality. I am grateful to the Water Resource Department for these designs and their commitment to the grass-roots efforts of the city working with the non-profits in the community in stormwater management. I am grateful that the youth of Waterfront South will grow many of the plants that will fill the meadow where you know stand in our native plant nursery a few hundred yards from here and the corridors of fruit trees.

 

The whisper of the river in Waterfront South has become more clear in recent years.  louder, stronger,. The tide will never stops, a promise for justice waiting in expectation to be revealed , a promise like an umbilical chord nurturing  and holding  the children of this city, young and old. Phoenix is a symbol for this our city.

 

The phoenix has long been presented as a symbol of rebirth, immortality, and renewal, the firebird rising every 500 years from the ashes of its own death rising like incense, bringing forth new life, a heron-like river bird bathing in the morning well.  Here at our Waterfront South Beach today we are born in immersion, groaning in expectation.

 

On this great day when our water has broke, we break this ground.  Let the waters from the sky fall and soften this hard  and dry land.

 

Let the scrap metal of our waterfront become the inspiration of beauty  in sculpture yet to come. Let the king fisher, egrit, shad, heron, mussels call this place home., and to the red-tail  hawk hovering above us, thank you.

 

“Let justice roll down like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Wild, cleansing, deep, or calm

 Let people fall in love on this place here with the water, the flowers, birds, and each other

 

 

L-rd our G-d,

this night your people keep prayerful vigil.

Be with us as we recall the wonder of our creation

and the greater wonder of our redemption.

Bless this water:it makes the seed to grow,

it refreshes us and makes us clean.

You have made of it a servant of your loving kindness:

Through water you set your people free,

and quenched their thirst in the desert.

With water, made holy by Christ in the Jordan,

you made sinful nature new in the bath that gives rebirth.

Let this water remind us of our baptism;

Love and gratitude.

 

 

Water,

the first moments of the world's creation
 hovered you

by the outpouring your flooding 
foreshadowed regeneration, 


the chosen people,
 set free from slavery passing through you

 

running on the water, / coming through the fog, / your sons and daughters. / Let the river run, / let all the dreamers / wake the nation. / Come, the New Jerusalem   

 

the other world is here, and now

 

Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street in the city by the urban farm, on either side of the river, was there the tree of life [see Rev 2:7 ], which bare twelve [ 12 ] manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.   ^ 

Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse:

 

“Breathing in, I see myself as still water. Breathing out, I reflect things as they are.”

 

This is the place where the boats will launch, for near and far destinations, kites will fly,  lovers will fall in love , and time  will stand stands still each evening during the golden hour, the setting of the sun. Let us touch this water and be healed. Let our faith in this new city bring us to this place where we learn to walk on the water.

 

Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle."

 

 

Let the fiery sun-set each day bless this place at Phoenix Park,

"Bursts of gold on lavender melting into saffron. firebird, warming our hearts and imaginations, new beginnings, and as

 

The Dalai Lama said “It is vital that when educating our children’s brains that we do not neglect to educate their hearts.” May this park be a classroom for our  hearts moved by beauty and caring for that which we know.