Plains

Stand in the middle of the open grasslands and the land runs to meet the sky in every direction. Wind moves across the grass in long waves, and the plains breathe with life: the great herds crossing on their ancient migrations, the lark rising on its song, the wildflowers opening after rain, the deep and tangled roots holding the living soil in place. This is open country, vast and golden, where the earth shows you its full horizon and the weather rolls in from far away.

These wide grasslands are greater than any of us, and their rhythm moves within us still. The same soil that feeds the grass grows the grain that feeds the world, and the same wide horizon has called to something restless and free in people for as long as we have walked here. To pray for the plains is to reach toward something open and far-reaching beyond you, and in the same breath, to feel the wind find the open country within you.

So hold the grasslands a while, today and tomorrow and the day after. Picture the prairie green and rippling, the herds returning, the soil deep and alive, and offer it what you offer all you love: a wish for its health, its fullness, its wide and rolling thriving. Let this be your prayer for the plains, in your own words, in your own tongue. The truest ones are rising on the wind even now.

Poster with guidelines for eco-prayer, showing a pair of hands holding a small globe with Earth visible, set against a starry night sky and Earth surface background, with text instructions.
A wide-open field of yellow flowers under a partly cloudy sky with dark clouds on the left and blue sky on the right.
Antelope with long, ridged horns standing in dry grass with other antelopes in the background.
A zebra standing in tall, dry grass in a savannah landscape with scattered acacia trees and distant mountains in the background.
A herd of bison grazing in a grassy field with mountains in the background under a blue sky.
A lion lying in tall yellow grass in a grassland landscape with scattered trees in the background.
A vast golden wheat field under a clear blue sky with a few scattered clouds.
Dark storm clouds with a lightning strike over a grassy landscape.
A landscape of open plains with tall grass and a single off-road vehicle, under a cloudy sky.
A vibrant rainbow arching across a partly cloudy sky over a greenfield landscape, with distant trees and blue horizon.
Open grassland with mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.
A prairie dog standing on its hind legs in a grassy field with scattered small orange flowers and a mound of dirt in the background.
Elephants walking in a grassy area near water with a vast savanna and distant trees and hills under a partly cloudy sky in the background.

The images here are to help you connect with the Ecosystem. For Additional Photo Resources Visit the Eco-Prayer Resources Page

An Eco-Prayer for the Plains

Earth and Sky in endless horizon's touch. Savannah, grassland and cultivated fields beneath rainbow promises.

Wildebeest, prairie dog, wallaby and wheat. The storm and wind caress the grass. Colors of rainbow love expressed in flower. A cricket serenades the buffalo. The circle of life is sung here. Each serves the other.

How far are the horizons of my care? The circle of my life? The circle of my group? The circle of life?

Explore Other Ecosystems

Photo of Earth as seen from space with continents, oceans, and cloud cover visible.

Earth

A sky with clouds illuminated by the warm hues of a setting or rising sun, with rays of sunlight streaming through the clouds.

Sky

Underwater scene with colorful coral reef and small, striped and orange fish swimming in clear blue water, sun rays penetrating from above.

Ocean

An aerial view of a dense forest with a mix of green, yellow, and orange trees, and a small stream running through the middle.

Forest

A vast grassland with rolling hills and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.

Plains

Arid desert landscape with red rock formations and sparse vegetation under a blue sky.

Desert

A rocky coastline with lush green hills on the left and an overcast sky, with fog near the horizon and waves crashing onto the shore.

Coasts

A heron stands in shallow water surrounded by green plants, with a background of trees and a wooded area.

Wetlands

A river flowing through a lush green valley with dense tree-covered hills on either side. There are a few boats in the water and a road along the riverbank.

Lakes and Rivers

Snow-capped mountain peaks under a clear, starry night sky with a faint moon, viewed from a forested foreground.

Mountains

A large iceberg floating in Arctic or Antarctic waters with cloudy sky overhead.

Poles

A close-up of a bee on a yellow flower with a green blurred background.

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