Where do blessings come from? From what do we fashion them? What elements go into a blessing, and how does a blessing reveal what is elemental—essential, basic—in our lives? As we near the end of this week of exploring elemental blessings, today’s reflection from Sacred Journeys continues the letter to a friend for whom I wrote the blessings that appear in this chapter.
These blessings for you come out of that pain, and they come out of those connections. They come out of a memory of how earth-embracing you are and how much I enjoyed the times you shared that quality with me: gazing at the stars through the barren branches of a tree that no longer stands, walking in the autumn wind that danced around us in the field of a Florida farm, partaking in the gifts of the earth in bread and wine (and a Thanksgiving meal, and a seafood feast, and a festive party with which you gifted me), witnessing your spirit as it moved to the very heartbeat of God.
I am reminded of the song you composed, “Out of Blessing We Give.” Out of blessing we give, indeed, and out of pain and loss and sorrow and unnameable hope. Out of moments offered, dreams broken, trust scattered, and journeys intertwined. Out of trepidation we give, out of struggle, out of wonder, out of our very connectedness. Out of fire, earth, wind, water…the elemental, original blessings that form body and soul and which we share with all things. And which I now share with you.
Questions for reflection
Right now, in this moment, what in your life is most in need of a blessing? What situation, wound, desire, relationship, memory, hope—what needs a word or gesture of blessing that you could offer? What would be the first line of a blessing for that need? What might the blessing help you see or know; what next step could it help you take?
Adapted from Sacred Journeys © Jan L. Richardson
