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| Anna and Joachim parents of Mary, mother of Jesus |
Blessing of Rest
~ Jan L. Richardson
Curl this blessing
beneath your head
for a pillow.
Wrap it around yourself for a blanket.
Lay it across your eyes
and for this moment
cease thinking about
what comes next,
what you will do
when you rise.
Let this blessing
gather itself to you
like the stillness
that descends
between your heartbeats,
the silence that comes
so briefly
but with a constancy
on which
your life depends.
Settle yourself
into the quiet
this blessing brings,
the hand it lays
upon your brow,
the whispered word
it breathes into
your ear
telling you
all shall be well
all shall be well
and you can rest
now.
At the retreat, Jan L. Richardson's poem "Blessing of Rest" was placed upon our pillow along with two pieces of dark chocolate. I had a wonderful weekend at the retreat. Although I should have come back rested and peaceful, I couldn't help thinking of all I needed to do as I drove the ninety minutes home. In true Sankalpa form, I have decided to "let go" of some items on the list. Mainly, I will not grade papers this weekend. In addition, I have decided to place this poem near my bed and read it before I sleep. The retreat reminded me that I AM a spiritual person who loves laughing, thinking, conversing, praying, and exercising... Sankalpa.
We also learned about the Patron Saint Anna. Because the retreat was entitled "Living on the Threshold" and Anna is the patron saint of doors, she was discussed. During the discussion we also were told that she's the patron saint of people with mental illness (the crazies was the term used by the delightful lady sharing her wisdom). I'm not sure if this is true, but it's endearing. Anna is pictured in the above photo. Although I can't find the title and/or artist of the painting, it hangs in our art gallery at church. At the retreat we were each given a card of the painting to carry with us through our "thresholds."
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