We sighted the land, and in that very instant, our eyes shone br

We sighted the land, and in that very instant, our eyes shone bright due to the radiance of the sunbeams, which cried out over the orchards and meadows. The path of the winds is accompanied by the pleasant scent of the trees; the soaring of the birds cultivates comfort for our souls. Beholding the fruits that sprouted there, I rejoiced with jubilation and praise. When I saw the streams of crystalline waters that encircle that land, my heart overflowed with joy. The desire of man rests upon the plains and finds peace in greeting the meadows and reciting the verdant grasses. For Adam was fashioned from the clay — and his first good works arose from that element —, he learned the sciences of nature: he cataloged, named, and cultivated every food that was good and pleasing. The wise God provided labor to set men straight upon the paths of honesty. Thus said the Lord: there is no shame in him who lays his hand upon the plow, but rather in the slothful who surrenders to idleness. Blessed be the soil that receives the sweat, for in it the seed finds its bed and life becomes abundance. May our hands, calloused by the toil, be the witness of a soul that does not flee from the sun, nor forgets the rain. For he who honors the earth honors the clay of his own origin, and walks under the gaze of God with head held high and a full granary. May our heritage be the trail of the plow and the fragrance of the fruit harvested in righteousness.