Act of Blessing: not for sissies

I have two Spiritual Friends, David and Susan, with whom I meet once a week for prayer and religious and spiritual study. Lately they have been encouraging me to not just be thankful for the good things that happen to me, but the awful ones, too. I think to myself, "That is a tall order, Friends! Sounds like the guy who said, 'Bless those who curse you.' That's crazy! Impossible!" Yet I know in my heart of hearts, David and Susan are right. Blessing the all of life, not just the wonderful, easy parts is the only true path to peace.

Not only are my Spiritual Friends pushing me in the direction of acceptance and gratitude, I got an email from an on-line Joan Chittister study course this morning giving me the same hard message. Guess I can run, but not hide, from this ancient wisdom.

Bless Everything
— from Joan Chittister in Listen With the Heart

As long as I can remember, we have blessed the Christmas tree each year. And we bless the women as they enter our community and those who are breathing their last in it.

And now the community has begun the practice of holding prayer vigils at sites of recent homicides in our city to bless that violent place with new peace.

In fact, we bless everything in sight. Why? Because blessings are the life breath of those who believe in the sacredness of space and place, all things and life.

Blessing is an ancient custom which, perhaps, could profit a people who live under schedules that leave us breathless and unsatisfied, who are surrounded by technology that promises more than it gives, who find themselves in such unrelenting pursuit of the good life that it so easily blurs the good in the present life.

Blessings are the visible demonstration of faith in the goodness of the God whose blessings are often invisible.

God bless you.