Friday, September 12, 2008

A Franciscan Benediction

I ran across this quote--a Franciscan benedition--from my wonderful wife Heather. It is the quote included in her email signature, and it has really rung something with me. "Benediction" comes from the roots for "good word." It is worth ruminating on this good word...

"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

"May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

"May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

"And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done."

Beautiful, provokative, inspiring, challenging!

Blessings,
JON

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