A Blessing . . .

 

Let these words

lay themselves

like a blessing

upon your head,

your shoulders,

 

As if,

like hands,

they could pass on

to you what you most need

for this day,

 

as if they could

anoint you

not merely for

the path ahead

 

but for this

ordinary moment

that opens itself

to you - -

 

opens itself

like another hand

that unfurls itself,

that reaches out

to gather

these words

in the bowl

of its palm.

 

You may think

this blessing

lives within

these words,

 

but I tell you

it lives

in the reaching;

 

it lives

in the ache

where this blessing

begins;

 

it lives

in the hollow

made by the place

where the hands

of this blessing

meet.

From: Circle of Grace by Jan Richardson

 http://www.janrichardson.com/index.htmlichardson.com