Blessings Bestowed

How many times do we say “Bless you” to a stranger? Someone ahead of us in line at the market sneezes suddenly and we send forth our quick blessing which really means “Don’t die”, a holdover from the Bubonic Plague. I hope we never stop. “God Bless You”…

I still think of my old friend Mark, a work buddy for years. Deeply spiritual, I often visited his cubicle for sustenance during the work day. Our discussions were reality checks for the stupefying craziness of corporate life but Mark would never send me off without a blessing for my well-being. It was almost as if his warm hand was atop my head as I walked away – his simple invocations were enough to refuel my spirit. Some were drawn from the works of Sister Faustina and he quoted them without a halt or hitch, how well he knew them. “In the midst of all trials, see the loving hand of God”…

My tall grandfather was lovably awkward among his small grandchildren. His last words to us after our brief hugs and pats on the back were, “Always be honest and true”. It’s not surprising that this gentle Scottish gent would pass on a bid for integrity to his progeny each Sunday when he visited. “Always be honest and true”…

For that matter, I love when the waitress sets my soup down with a “Here you go, Hon”. She “sees” me and blesses me with her simple endearment and I smile back. Or, “Please take my seat”, “I love your shoes”. Blessings,all.

And so, I watched the lovely lady above cross the road whilst I was on vacation a few weeks ago. I was struck by her beautiful watery-green dress, her proud and serene bearing, and the Nantucket lighthouse basket on her arm. Since we were very far from coastal New England, I stopped her and asked her about her basket.

She told me she had been to Nantucket once, many years before and now loved using the basket as her handbag. She cherished it as a memento of having been to a far-off place and then briefly told me how she sewed the linings herself. I complimented her on the pretty green dress and asked her if I could photograph her. She seemed delighted to know I was from Massachusetts and asked my name. Her’s was Caroline. Just then the trolley I had been waiting for pulled up and regretfully, I had to go. “God bless”, I said as I was about to wave and turn. “I’m a minister here on the Island”, she said excitedly and then “May God bless you too!”. And she ended with an invocation that brought a mist to my eyes: “We will meet and chat again in eternity!”, and she used my name. Thusly, we parted…me to the trolley and she, to her shopping. Her blessing is with me still…Caroline and I in eternity.

In today’s world where uncertainty and fear prevail, heartfelt expressions remind us what truly matters and offer an outstretched hand in the dark. Blessings to our fellow man provide hope, resilience and joy and they have the power to bring us strength for our journeys. “One day at a time”, “Go easy”, “You are in my prayers”.

As for Caroline…until we meet again.