Bless this Child

     There is a tiny book entitled To Bless a Child written by Roy G. Pollina.  Fr. Pollina encourages parents to start the tradition of speaking a blessing to your children. It is an endearing concept; a tradition well worth establishing. The book gives step by step instructions on crafting your own blessings.

      To speak a blessing over your child is to tell them not just that you have good wishes for them but that you are, in that moment, entrusting them to God's care, that you are speaking to God about your dear child.  What a powerful message this sends to your child. It tells your child that you believe that God is here and part of his or her day. It tells your child that you seek from God the very best for them. It reminds them of God's story, God's love and their place in the family of Christ.

     My children are in college and high school. I felt self conscious when I put my hand on my daughter's forehead as she prepared to step out of the car in the dark hours of the morning. Quietly I said," Lord Jesus grant my child peace and confidence on this day." She looked at me and said, "That sounds like something the Pope would say." Then she smiled , kissed my cheek and stepped out of the car. Maybe she thinks I am nuts, but maybe she was reminded of the depth of my love and God's love for her.

Sacred Space

 During the last week of July our church held its annual Home Grown Mission Week. This a week of middle school and high school students working on community projects during the day and sleeping on the floor of the youth room at night. It is a week full of challenges and blessings. It is hard for 17 teenagers ranging in age from 11 to 18  to work together, eat together, play games together and rest together. It takes a lot of grace sometimes it is there and sometimes it is missing.

One time in each day when the acceptance and grace shined through was in the evening. After the games, but before we bunked down, as a group we trekked up two flights of stairs to Mary's Chapel, the small chapel to the side of the sanctuary.  There was much goofing around as we went up the stairs and hints of ghosts or other things that go bump in the night as we approached the darker parts of the church. The kids would gather outside the door of the chapel and wait for me to lead them in. I didn't ask them to wait, but they did. As I opened the door and lead them into the chapel  each night there was a change to the demeanor of them as individuals and as a group.We were entering a sacred space and peacefulness was quietly waiting for us there.

Some reverenced the cross; some did not. All were quieter. There was some jostling for pew space, but very little. Each of them took a prayer book, opened it and participated. This time of prayer was not  a teaching moment, I had no message for them. It was a time of prayer for all of us. I asked them to be silent for a few seconds so we could refocus; leave the pile of difficulties behind and enter into a quieter feeling. After about 30 second or at least 5 good deep breaths for me, I would start Compline in the Book of Common Prayer. We wandered through the confession and the prayers, the Lord's prayer and the psalm and ended with the final blessing. By the time we were done we were changed  we were a closer community when we left; it was a change I can't explain, one of those mysterious of faith. 

We were faithful in prayer and we were blessed as a result.