Blessings

“Our passion for life is quietly sustained from somewhere in us that is wedded to the energy and excitement of life. This shy inner light is what enables us to recognize and receive our very presence here as blessing.  We enter the world as strangers who all at once become heirs to a harvest of memory, spirit and dream that has long preceded us and will now enfold, nourish, and sustain us. The gift of the world is our first blessing.”   John O’Donohue

For well over two years I have been facilitating a women’s support group that we call the Women’s Circle. As women in ACT III (55+) of our lives we come together once a month to explore topics sharing from our collective experiences who are we now and how we can navigate life’s changes with grace, curiosity, and deeper meaning. Our guiding premise comes from the words of Victor Frankel in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, “Everything you have in life can be taken from you except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to any and all situations.”

Our sessions begin with an inspirational quote that I read. In preparing for our August meeting, I found myself in my sister’s library while in Atlanta with her last week. I reached for one of my revered authors and held the book, To Bless the Space Between Us, by John O’Donohue in my hands. I opened the book to the perfect page that aligned with our topic. I love it when that happens! I call it magic.  This is what I read. 

Blessings of Kindness

The word kindness has a gentle sound that seems to echo the presence of compassionate goodness. When someone is kind to you, you feel understood and seen. There is no judgment or harsh perception directed toward you. Kindness has gracious eyes. Kindness suggests that your vulnerability, though somehow exposed, is not taken advantage of; rather, it has become an occasion for dignity and empathy. Despite all the darkness, human hope is based on the instinct that at the deepest level of reality some intimate kindness holds sway. This is the heart of the blessing.

Much like some of you, I used to think that blessing was religious, yet I have come to know that blessing is more a way to project a loving frequency that resonates as a sacred gift to someone from the embrace of the caring heart. A blessing is a circle of light drawn around a person to protect, heal and strengthen. The beauty of blessing is its belief that it can affect what unfolds. When we bless, we are enabled somehow to go beyond our present human limitations and reach into the great and benevolent source that unifies all of creation, that touches and manifests our kind intentions in timeless realms of all possibility.  The word blessing evokes a sense of warmth that suggests that no life is alone or unreachable.

I wanted to include this poem from the book because it speaks to those of us that are in ACT III, but more, our Women’s Circle wants to let you know that no matter your age, we encourage you with these words of wisdom and send you blessings for your safe passage.

Blessing for Older Age

May the light of your soul mind you.

May all your worry and anxiousness about your age

Be transfigured.

May you be given wisdom for the eyes of your soul

To see this as a time of gracious harvesting.

May you have the passion to heal what has hurt you,

And allow it to come closer and become one with you.

May you have great dignity,

Sense how free you are;

Above all, may you be given the wonderful gift

Of meeting the eternal light that is within you.

May you be blessed;

And may you find wonderful love