The Power of Blessing
At the recent conference I attended on St. Simon’s Island, Marcus Borg talked about a spiritual practice he had picked up from his fellow presenter, Barbara Brown Taylor. It’s a very simple practice. As you go through the day, silently bless every person you see: just say “Bless you,” silently to yourself, directed at one particular person at a time.
Sounds easy, almost simplistic, but I’ve found it to be a very moving and profound practice, the few times I’ve tried it recently. The people at the coffeehouse and at your place of work, the people you see walking across the street, the people you see as you conduct your everyday business – just offer each person a blessing in silence. “Bless you.” It’s amazing how calming this is in traffic!
Sounds easy, almost simplistic, but I’ve found it to be a very moving and profound practice, the few times I’ve tried it recently. The people at the coffeehouse and at your place of work, the people you see walking across the street, the people you see as you conduct your everyday business – just offer each person a blessing in silence. “Bless you.” It’s amazing how calming this is in traffic!
posted by Darrell Grizzle | 3:18 PM
4 Comments:
And bless you!
This is extremely similar to the buddhist practice of Metta. The truth is I haven't done this in some time, but I remember being at the YMCA working out and as each person passed by in front of me I would say "May she be happy, may she have peace, may she be well." A lot wordier than "Bless you" - but both powerful practices (...and I do love me some Marcus Borg!)
Some time ago, I developed a practice that I've let lapse lately that is similar, yet different from what you wrote about. I actually use it when I'm in an uncertain situation or when I'm around people who make me anxious or who feel dangerous to me. I look at them and say to myself: "Made in the image of God."
It calms me. It makes me less anxious and afraid. It turns people into people rather than objects to fear. Or hate. Or whatever negative emotion I may be feeling for them at the moment. Your post was a good reminder to me of this practice.
And of course, I'll also try blessing a few people tomorrow, too.
Thanks, Darrell!
I can tell a funny story about this kind of practice: we live in culturally restricted (redneck)part of the world, and when my wife said aloud to my boss (a confirmed post-modernist) "Bless your heart," he objected, saying that in his experience this phrase and concept were more commonly used disparagingly (condescendingly) than for real blessing. This surprised Barb, who is full of the spirit of genuine blessing, and whose habit of blessing everyone, silently or out loud, did not develop in a culture like this one!
On the other hand, I'm fairly sure that I got this job through the same means: I used to pick up my daughter from work, and speak blessings to this man and his business and family, and he received these blessings and later offered me a chance to bless the business daily and be blessed by it as well!
Blessings and love to all,
Peter
I love this idea - and it creates that space between for the blessing itself.
On "bless your heart": There seems to be a wide range of possible interpretations for this phrase. As a liberal Yankee, it took a while for me to notice - and I am sure that I still don't get it.
However, if you listen carefully to the tone and pay attention to the context, you'll see that it can mean one thing, or another - and sometimes both at once!
I've seen it used as a kind of judgment and expression of shadenfreude ("and then her daughter became a prostitute, bless her heart") and I've seen it used with - I think - sincerity. It can express sympathy, or it can show disdain. It can be a reaction to cuteness, or stand in as a general indicator of support. It's really a very fascinating phrase. What makes so interesting is that the ambiguity allows it to hold a few possible interpretations at once - and in such a way as to disallow open critique.
I love it.
But only a real Southerner can do it right.
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