The poor in spirit and those who hunger and thirst have been put in my path so many times in the past couple of months.  Each encounter has been a blessing for me.  It has given me a chance to look at myself and to see my reflection in their eyes as well as to look in their eyes and see the reflection of emotions buried, somtimes deep, inside me.  As Mother Earth says "We are all ONE."

 

From all of these encounters I've learned humility.  I learned from the hungry young man who came into Positive New Beginnings, that your faith can see you through even when your world is falling apart.  I have learned from the young woman I picked up thumbing her way to her cancer treatments that there is nothing wrong with gracefully accepting and asking for help when you need it. I learned from the the old man with the threadbare coat whose hands shook as he held a cup of coffee, that everyone has a story and that you cannot judge a person by their clothing or appearance.

 

  I walked into the coffee shop, and although there were other seats available, I hesitated for a moment and then chose to sit next to him.  He looked at me and then looked down and said, "I apologize dear, for looking like this. Perhaps you'd rather sit somewhere else."  "No, I'm quite happy sitting here", I said and smiled at him.  His eyes filled up with tears, and he said "Thank you."  He told me I reminded him of his daughter that had died two years ago. He used to live with her, but now lived in a boarding house by himself.  He had no family and he had outlived all of his friends. The waitress at this coffee shop was kind to him and he had come to give her a little christmas gift.  I finished my coffee and wished him a Happy New Year!  He gave me a huge smile as he tipped his hat at me and then recited an old Irish Blessing.  His whole demeanor had changed. He no longer looked deflated, but proud and strong, like the young man he had once been.  I left the shop being warmed by so much more than coffee.

 

When I got home I looked up the Irish Blessing.

I now pass it on and wish it for you.  I also wish that you take the time to truly look into the face of another, especially someone that others might shun. 

 

May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within.

May the blessed sunshine shine on you and warm your heart til it glows like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come and warm himself at it, and also a friend.

And may the light shine out of the two eyes of you, like a candle set in two windows of a house, bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm;

and may the blessing of the rain be on you -- the soft, sweet rain.

May it fall ulpon your spirit so that all the little flowers may spring up and shed their sweetness on the air.

 

And may the blessings of the Great Rains be on you, may they beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there many a shining pool where the blue of heaven shines, and sometimes a star.

 

And may the blessing of the Earth be on you -- the great round earth; may you ever have a kindly greeting for those you pass as you're going along the roads.

May the earth be soft under you when you rest upon it, tired at the end of a day, and may it rest lightly over you that your soul may be off from under it quickly and up and off, and on its way to God.

And now may the Lord bless you all and bless you kindly.

 

 

May 2010 be a Blessing to You and

May you, in 2010 be a Blessing to others.

 

Love,

Linda Hogan