The blessing for this work is inspired by the poem, Kindness, by Naomi Shihab Nye:

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.

 

We bring ourselves to those who have lost things.

We offer our deep company to those whose future has seemed to dissolve, and ever so tenderly, ever so gently, we hold the possibility of hope and resilience.

We bring our presence to dear ones living in a desolate landscape,

that our compassion and kindness might sustain them.

That our compassion and kindness might sustain us.

That our compassion and kindness might sustain this beautiful, aching world.