There I was on the ground! I had not intended to be on hands and knees. And yet, it happened in an instant. I was walking on the path one minute and staring at the grass the next. I stepped off the path, as I had done many times before, to let another pass. But that time, one foot went into a hidden hole and down I went. The Muslim women walking toward me, in their surprise to find me on the ground, were quick with compassion. As I slowly rose examining my stance, kindness exuded from their speech and brimmed out their eyes. Their parting words to me hung in the air and pierced my heart. “God bless you,” they prayed upon me. In an instant division faded away between us and community of blessing was born.
The Scripture
Life on earth is difficult. Violence and injustice rage among humanity. Prejudgments of others, self, and even God are a regular occurrence as humanity walks through the days of our lives. Yet in the midst of the many imperfections of life we are encourage to live blessing.
In the Scripture for today, Paul wrote to the Corinthians from an unjust imprisonment in Rome. Fear, anger, prejudice, and the desire for power over people led to Paul’s imprisonment. Yet he wrote of God’s blessing through hardship in 2 Corinthians 1: 3-11. Paul concludes this thanksgiving for God’s blessing by encouraging others to become a prayer-filled blessing for others.
“As you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many may give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (Verse 11)
Today’s Prayer Practice
It is easy to overlook opportunities of blessing. Often it is just assumed that the other knows how we love them and words of blessing are not spoken. Today we ponder: how are you blessed? How are you a blessing for others?
You are invited to intentionally becoming a blessing for others. Through writing a Trinitarian Blessing you have the potential to anoint the lives of others. You may want to write two prayers of blessing. One for yourself and one for another of your choosing.
What is a Trinitarian Blessing? This threefold prayer evokes the essence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as blessing for self and others. To write your Trinitarian Blessing, write three prayer statements for the one whom you desire to bless. For the three prayer statements consider:
- The attributes of the Creator Father. How do you desire for God’s creative love to encircle the one you have chosen to pray for?
- The forgiving, redeeming love of Jesus. How do you desire for God’s presence of love in and through Jesus to anoint the subject of your prayer?
- In considering the Holy Spirit, that mysterious unseen power and presence of God’s breath infilling humanity, how will you evoke this mysterious love to sustain your chosen receipt of blessing?
Once you write and pray your prayer of Trinitarian Blessing, you may want to take up the ultimate challenge and speak your prayer to the one for whom you wrote the blessing.
Enjoy praying.
