Blessed Be

I was wondering today about blessings: What are they exactly? What's the difference between a bunch of words in a sentence and a blessing? What makes them work or be effective? Do they have to be spoken aloud? Can unspoken thoughts be as a blessing - or curse?

I thought of the subterfuge that caused Isaac to Bless his 2nd son Jacob, instead of his 1st-born Esau. Once the Blessing had been pronounced there was no taking it back; it couldn't be undone, like a legally binding word-document; a spoken Last Will & Testament. 

I thought of Jesus cursing the fig tree for having a proliferation of leaves, but no fruit when he was hungry, and found some interesting insights into what all that might have been about: 
https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/bible-teachings/why-did-jesus-curse-the-fig-tree/

It seems, in blessing, words do need to be spoken, to be given breath; God's given Life-force formed into a carrier of intent, as in 'Let there be....' and there was! 

I checked out the etymology; the many facets, nuances, and later disagreements! There's a mix of Hebrew barak, to kneel, show reverence, obeisance;  esher, state of happiness, joy, bliss; and eulogeo, to give a good report, or 'eulogy'. The disputed factor was about consecrating with blood. None of that trail of thought seemed particularly useful. 

So I changed tack a little and thought of the series of blessings known as the Beatitudes: 

And the modern day version that inspired Nadia Bolz Weber, author of Accidental Saints:: Finding God in All the Wrong People, and founding pastor of House for All Sinners & Saints,in Denver, Colorado: 

[From: http://criticalpages.com/2018/beatitudes-nadia-bolz-weber/]

Blessed are the agnostics. Blessed are they who doubt. Those who aren’t sure, who can still be surprised.

Blessed are they who are spiritually impoverished and therefore not so certain about everything that they no longer take in new information.

Blessed are those who have nothing to offer. Blessed are they for whom nothing seems to be working.

Blessed are the pre-schoolers who cut in line at communion.

Blessed are the poor in spirit. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are they for whom death is not an abstraction. Blessed are they who have buried their loved ones, for whom tears are as real as an ocean.

Blessed are they who have loved enough to know what loss feels like.

Blessed are the mothers of the miscarried.

Blessed are they who don’t have the luxury of taking things for granted any more.

Blessed are they who can’t fall apart because they have to keep it together for everyone else.

Blessed are the motherless, the alone, the ones from whom so much has been taken.
Blessed are those who “still aren’t over it yet.”

Blessed are they who laughed again when for so long they thought they never would.  Blessed are those who mourn.

You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.

A morning of musings, that I suspect will keep percolating, with something deeper brewing, perhaps. 

I remember the 1st time I came across the Blessing in the Book of Numbers in my Living Bible as a teenager - even just reading it had an incredible power that took me aback. I still have that Bible; I'd like to think that that Blessing still stands:

The Grace of Eating & Feasting

Do kids say 'Thank you' (grace) before meals nowadays?! These 2 children's examples made me think about the purpose of saying grace, or pronouncing a blessing before eating. 

The bowl of cherries in the 1st picture came from a community project distributing food during this time of lockdown: community thoughtfulness and sharing that found its way to my door. Each time I see them, and the other items, I'm reminded I am a member of a community that cares.

Gratitude for food covers every culture; I learned that Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Tradition bless and give thanks both before and after their meals. That The Jewish faith has a blessing for different food groups: grain; bread; fruit of the vine etc. Hindus, Buddhists, Zen, Native American tribes - all have their own format for blessing food; being in gratitude for its provision, and sharing it with others. 

        

A couple of years ago I read a book about gratitude written as a project by a journalist; she'd been recommended to pause with mindfulness before eating anything - even a 'quick snack' on the way to an assignment. Difficult to begin with, a little irksome, even, but it played its part in the bigger picture of being appreciative for those things she had so often taken for granted.  

Taking a moment before eating may be a difficult practice to adopt, but I am sure it has many benefits that we unknowingly deprive ourselves of - daily. A malnutrition of gratitude! In those moments, some thought can be given to how the food got onto the plate - the source; supplier; merchant; marketing; delivery; utilities involved.....

I thought back to my time in Georgia, famed for its 'supras', feasts at which a 'tamada', or toastmaster, begins each feast with recognition of God's favour, bringing food to the table, to share with others; followed, throughout, with blessings & toasts that would likely include a homage to 'the lost ones': 'To the memory of those who have left us. May they never have any lack of candlelight'; and a toast to Life and Children who keep the flame burning. 

These toasts are way-stations - places where all those gathered around the table, collectively pause and give thanks. I don't think I experienced any meal there that wasn't a Feast. Which led me to the over-eater's prayer:

What is food for? That pause before beginning can take in - digest - the purpose of what's about to go down....

A friend once told me it's helpful, when approaching the 'fridge, to HALT & ask: is this:

Hunger?

Anger?

Loneliness?

Tiredness?

You could make up your own version to suit.

Maybe, if one could really stabilize the reasons for eating, there's more scope to actually enjoying it without guilt or a 'hangover' afterwards. May this be so! 

Navajo Holy Wind - Breath of Life - Holy Spirit

Today brings a Navajo prayer from the largest Native American Tribe.

The word for 'wind' is 'nilch'i', which means: Holy Spirit; Life (breath); speech; movement. It's believed it appears at conception, then when the baby takes it's 1st breath, it brings within the air/atmosphere/life/spirit of its human tribe. This Life-Spirit enters & departs at the whorls on one's fingers & toes; the whorls of hair on one's crown; at the tip of one's tongue - to convey speech & carry it on the wind, and in the lungs. It's invisible, just as the gospels teach that the Holy Spirit cannot be seen, but is evidenced by the movement of tree-tops & leaves - it goes where it is directed by God.

A much more widely known Navajo Prayer (and Way of Life) is the Beauty Way Prayer. The word Beauty often replaced by other meaningful variations, keeping to the same chant-like format. 

A long way from prophets and Bibles, but that same recognition that all things are created; that the Earth has been given to us as custodians, and it speaks volumes about it's Creator, and our relationship.

It's hard to look at the indigenous peoples of America without a feeling of grief; guilt; and pain at what they suffered at the hands of White Men; the need to control and claim territories, with no regard for lives; livelihood; culture; traditions. Painful to read a little on the 'Long Walk' they were forced to endure, which claimed the lives of so many. It seems good things can be forged in the furnace of great suffering. Rooted and guided by Nature.

Sorely in need of a little humour, it helped to read the story about NASA sending their astronauts to the Navajo reservation, in 1966, as it appeared to resemble the Moon's surface, watched by 2 curious Navajo shepherds. In meeting, the Elder asked excitedly if they would convey a message from them to the Moon. This was duly recorded on tape, but they could not get the son to translate for them, nor any other tribe member, until, finally, with a little bit of financial persuasion, they got the message: 'Watch out for these guys; they come to take your land!' [https://www.indigenouspeople.net/navajo.htm]. The travesty of that action is bound to remain, as noted in this quote by Ginger Hills: 'They came with the Bible in one hand and the gun in the other. First they stole gold. Then they stole the land. Then they stole our souls.' That would be an example of what happens when Dark Wind enters a soul. All souls matter.

It feels appropriate to end with a Navajo Blessing:

What is Prayer? The on-going conversation

Today's 'Traditional Jewish Prayer' looked like it might be a psalm, and sure enough, the 1st line is from psalm 91. 

I had to do some searching to learn more though, and discovered that, traditionally, Jewish men are required to pray 3 x a day, as did King David & Daniel, morning, afternoon & evening - founded on the commandment: 

'You shall serve God with your whole heart' - 

one definition of the Hebrew word for prayer being: 'Service that is of the heart'. 

The verb form adds the extra meaning of self-appraisal with the view to making any necessary changes to be of pleasing service; in good relationship. Prayer, then,  is transformational. Prayer is good practice - it's a bit like ensuring you keep up intimate conversation with a partner so nothing can slip in and cause a divide. 

Not a denominational thing - a personal, relationship thing. Not manipulation, but a willingness to be open and vulnerable. With room for argument - or discussion!

Prayer is an effective way of getting clear on important issues; the word itself may well put many off - but open conversation with a desire to relate and express doesn't have any sense of religious connotations, and yet, in my mind, are one and the same.

       

Gaelic Blessings

Today's prayer-card is a well-known traditional Gaelic Blessing. 

Attributed by some to St. Patrick, as it has a similar tone; I discovered that the word 'rise' is a mis-translation, more accurately translated as: 

'May you succeed on your road' 

[https://www.crosswalk.com/…/what-this-irish-blessing-means-… provides an overview and examination of the symbology of the blessing, by Mary Bucher that was really helpful in unpacking more value from this simple blessing]. 

I quickly learned Celts have a blessing for every occasion, often used to this day at weddins & funerals.

Is a blessing different to a prayer? 

I also noticed most blessings begin with 'May', which reminded me of a book I'd read years ago by Catherine Marshall, who wrote a chapter on prayers beginning with 'Let...'. 

In following that trail of thought I came across a site that referenced her, and has useful resources on How to pray; Ways to pray; Intercession; praying for needs etc. 

[https://www.prayerideas.org/adventures-in-prayer-by-cather…/]. 

Both home and away, blessings bring to our conscious mind that all are affairs can be committed to God's care, and they reveal the expression of our own care and concern; one's good intent.

This morning's prayer-blessing brought about blessing indeed; for following my passion, for this beautiful, creative focus on God, and for the many blessings I enjoy in this expression.

Augustine of Hippo: Philosopher Saint

Today's card shows a prayer by St. Augustine (351-430).The most effective prayers are usually very simple, or heartfelt, or both; but in looking up information about him, it all got a lot more serious; he was a theologian & philosopher who made a profound impact on the course of Western Philosophy, referenced by Heidegger, Wittgenstein & Bertrand Russel among others - all above my head. But I love that all his musings and meditations have had that much impact through so many centuries.

I love this simple prayer in the prayer deck that seems to cover everything, and absolutely love the words of the one below, especially: 'May we respect life as we work to solve problems of family & nation' - which couldn't be more pertinent at this time of unsettling upheaval and change. 

I love the analogy of the soul as a house - the archetype of self that Jung championed so many years later.

Isn't Know Thyself an ancient maxim? From The Temple of Apollo / Oracle of Delphi, and the coffin texts of ancient Egypt, and all throughout the ages. It was obviously this capacity to wonder that led to his philosophical musings and meditations on the nature of God and our relationship to Him. Lofty & deep.

Uncompromising, having once lived a compromised life.

A little bit tickled to discover he's the patron saint of brewers! Also printers and theologians, and your go-to saint if you suffer with sore eyes. 

Loving this pack of prayers more and more, and never sure what each day will bring.