Sermon given by Sarina Ryan, August 15, 2021.

Do you ever wonder how we tiny little dots on the Universe could make a difference and be a blessing in this Big World?  

For centuries, humankind thought that giving blessings belonged to the professionals: ordained individuals, the mystics and the prophets – who, let’s face it, were mostly males!

The truth is giving blessings has always been a part of the human experience. In the late 1800’s, Alexander Carmichael traveled to the Islands of Scotland to research and collect the vanishing songs, poems, and prayers of the Gaelic-speaking islanders. His body of work became known as the Carmina Gadelica. In addition to songs, poems, and prayers, it included blessings, proverbs, and natural history observations, it was filled with examples of everyday people blessing their work, their fellow humans, the earth, and just about everything else as a matter of course. 

So, what is a blessing and how can you give one? In fact, be one? According to Rachel Naomi Remen, “a blessing is not something that one person gives another. A blessing is a moment of meeting – a certain kind of relationship in which both people involved remember and acknowledge their true nature and worth and strengthen what is whole in one another. Blessing life moves us closer to each other and closer to our authentic selves.”

It is these simple acts:

• Smiling to someone you pass by

• Bringing a meal to a sick friend

• Volunteering for Community Meals

• Making a phone call to someone who is grieving

• Sending a note or a card

• Listening deeply to another person

• Helping someone up after a fall

• Showing up in a crisis

• Fight for social justice

• Holding someone who is suffering in your arms

and so much more that allows us to bless others and allows them to receive blessings.

You do not have to be an extraordinary person to give or be a blessing – just a person with an open heart, who helps, appreciates, or acknowledges another being. Simple acts can become extraordinary blessings.

Russell Brinson’s story, “The Two Buckets” is a perfect example of ordinary blessings.

“There one was a farmer who had two buckets.
He used those buckets to bring water home every day.
One of the buckets had a crack and leaked continuously.
The other was perfect and never spilled a drop.
As time passed, the cracked bucket became sad about the leaked water.
He decided to speak with the farmer.
Upon learning that he was sad, the farmer asked the bucket to join him on a walk. 
They walked down the same path as always…
But this time, the farmer pointed out all of the wonderful life that had sprung up around them. 
He explained to the bucket that HE was responsible for all of this beauty…
If he hadn’t leaked water every day the plant would never have grown.
The bucket realized that, despite his flaws, he still helped those around him grow…even when he wasn’t aware of it.”

All blessings are not immediately evident – often there is a ripple effect from things that happen. Certainly, we all have experienced many blessings that resulted from the horror of the COVID-19 pandemic – a greater appreciation of family, nature, and simple things. 

Two weeks ago, Simone Biles made the decision to pull out of most of the Olympic Gymnastics events. It was, I am sure, a hard decision for her. She received criticism as well as support from many sources. What seemed to be a tragedy for Simone turned into a ripple effect of many blessings. 

First of all, Simeon learned to bless herself with the gift of self-case, but she also became a blessing and role model for those suffering from mental health challenges. In addition, she blessed two of her teammates with the opportunity to participate and shine in The Olympics.

Twenty-four-year-old Mykayla Skinner, who was in her final Olympics, without ever having the opportunity to compete, won the silver medal in the vault competition. She was put in as a last-minute replacement for Biles, who had withdrawn from the event. What a blessing for Mykayla, who was preparing to go home, but stayed in Japan because Simone said she might be needed.

Jade Carey, who had a disastrous showing in the vault event, replaced Biles the next day and won the Gold for the floor exercises. She thanked Simone for supporting her and opening the door for her to participate. – Another small blessing.

One of the most blessed times I have ever experienced and witnessed happened a few hours before my father’s death. The doctors had told us Dad would pass within the day. My sister, my aunts and uncles, all the grandchildren, and I surrounded his hospital bed.

My father was a devout Catholic, and I knew receiving the Last Rites of the Church (now known as the Sacrament of the Sick) was something he would want. I went to the nurse’s station to request a priest and was told it was the priest’s day off – my heart sank. I had a friend who worked in a church office and asked if he could help me out. He said he would see what he could do. 

Unbeknownst to me, one of my sons, who was a police officer, reached out to his Police Chaplain, a congregational minister, and the nurse at the nurse’s station felt so badly about this, that she started a quest of her own.

About an hour-and-a-half later, a rabbi walked into my father’s room. He looked around and saw several people with Rosary beads in their hands. He asked, “What do you want me to do?” 

I said, “Could you give my father a blessing?”

He began to pray the “Mi Sheberach” – the Jewish prayer for the sick. It was a beautiful prayer and truly a comfort to my dad and all of use. We gave the rabbi our heartfelt thanks and told him how meaningful his words were. When he left, we were smiling and calm. – Thankful for this simple blessing.

A half-an-hour later, the Police Chaplain showed up. The Catholic aunts and uncles clenched their rosary beads a little tighter. But what happened next was so amazing and perfect. He spoke words of comfort to my father and to each of us. He then asked us to hold hands and circle the hospital bed. We prayed “The Lord’s Prayer” together. There was such peace and love in that moment. 

Pastor Paul and I became friends after that. Our paths crossed many times. He married my older son and daughter-in-law and baptized their first child. 

A simple blessing for the dying, that, in turn, began a friendship.

Finally, maybe forty-five minutes later --- and you know what’s coming --- a priest, Father Cannoli to be exact, walked into the room. The aunts and uncles were beaming! Father Cannoli administered the Last Rites to my father, who was smiling. 

The quest to give my father a final blessing was achieve three times! Different denominations, different prayers, all given with the intention of blessing a dying man with compassion and love.

We were all blessed that day, and I believe the rabbi, the minister, and the priest were blessed as well. Our hearts and minds were unified. – Simple blessings.

So, remember to give simple blessings and to receive blessings simply. That simple “goodbye” we say to people is a contraction of “God be with you” – a blessing.

That smile, that look of concern, love, or sympathy are all blessings.

Mother Theresa said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

Matthew Fox said, “Blessing involves relationship. One does not bless without investing something of oneself. And one does not receive blessings oblivious of its gracious giver.”

A blessing spirituality is a relating spirituality. And, if it is true that all of Creation flows from a single, loving source, then all of Creation is blessed and is a blessing.

Benediction: You may not always see how you impact the people around you, but everything you do can add up over time. Just think – if every person committed to one act of kindness a day, how much better the world would become. 

Remember:
To give blessings freely
To be open to receiving blessings
And always, always remember:
YOU ARE A BLESSING!
Blessed Be!