A Blessing for World-Changers

When you think of God’s blessing, what do you think of? Good health? Financial stability? Your family’s safety? These are all valid and wonderful things to pray for. They are, indeed, blessings from God!

However, what if God “gifted” you with uneasiness? What if his favor resting upon you were to look like a broken heart or deep sadness? We rarely think of such things as blessings. Yet, in the right context, they are exactly what we need and should long for.

The following poem from the Franciscans gets to the heart of that truth. I pray this blessing over you this day.

A Franciscan Blessing

May God bless you with discomfort,

At easy answers, half-truths,

And superficial relationships

So that you may live

Deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger

At injustice, oppression,

And exploitation of people,

So that you may work for

Justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears,

To shed for those who suffer pain,

Rejection, hunger, and war,

So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and

To turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you

With enough foolishness

To believe that you can

Make a difference in the world,

So that you can do

What others claim cannot be done

To bring justice and kindness

To all our children and the poor.

Amen.