A blessing to share.
Last week a retreat participant emailed me a beautiful blessing by John O’Donohue from To Bless the Space Between Us. I was touched by it and wanted to share it with you.
May you recognize in your life the presence, power, and light of your soul.
May you realize that you are never alone, that your soul in its brightness and belonging connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
May you have respect for your individuality and difference.
May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, that you have a special destiny here, that behind the facade of your life there is something beautiful and eternal happening.
May you learn to see your self with the same delight, pride, and expectation with which God sees you in every moment.
When I read this, I could feel a sweet tender part of me open up. I received this blessing in my body as it landed gently but powerfully throughout my whole being. This experience changed my perspective in that moment. I was popped out of the busyness of the day and into the present moment, taking in the gift of these words.
Recently, I sat next to a woman on a plane who was wearing a sweatshirt that simply said, “I’m proud of you.” It elicited a similar feeling. Are we all just waiting to be reminded of the truth of who we are? To know that we are loved? To remember that we are all connected to each other? We never can predict how a blessing we send through an email, what we wear on a sweatshirt or a simple smile in the street may affect someone.
I realize that the more I practice meditation, the more I heal and operate less from my wounding, the more I live in the present moment, the more simple kindness is available to both give and receive, for myself and for others. So many of us grew up with a deficit of kindness. As I continue to grow and get out of my own way, I realize that kindness is probably the most important and simplest thing we can practice.
So may all of you receive this blessing in your beings. And pass it along to whoever needs it.