"To Bless the Space Between Us"

Tomorrow is our annual "staff day away" ... time we take as senior and operation staff at All Saints Church for collective reflection at the beginning of each program year. This year, one of our "homework assignments" from the rector was an excerpt from John O'Donohue's "book of blessings" ... "To Bless the Space Between Us."

Here's a taste:

We need to rediscover the careless courage, yet devastating simplicity, of the little boy who in the middle of the numbered multitude blurts out, “But the emperor has no clothes!” When spoken, the word of truth can bring down citadels of falsity.

Real presence is the ideal of all true individuation. When we yield to helplessness, we strengthen the hand of those who would destroy. When we choose indifference, we betray our world. Yet the world is not decided by action alone. It is decided more by consciousness and spirit; they are the sources of action and behavior.

The spirit of a time is an incredibly subtle, yet hugely powerful force. And it is comprised of the mentality and spirit of all individuals together. Therefore, the way you look at things is not simply a private matter. Your outlook actually and concretely affects what goes on.

When you give in to helplessness, you collude with despair and add to it. When you take back your power and choose to see the possibilities for healing and transformation, your creativity awakens and flows to become an active force of renewal and encouragement. In this way you can become a powerful agent of transformation in a broken, darkened world.

And all I can think to add to that tonight is "Let the people say 'Amen.'" And get some sleep. And wake up tomorrow refusing to collude with despair and ready to take back our power to be agents of peace, justice and compassion.