Love and belonging are the irreducible needs of men, women, and children.
In the absence of these, there will always be suffering.
-Brene Brown
"She did not need much, wanted very little. A kind word, sincerity, fresh air, clean water, a garden, kisses, books to read, sheltering arms, a cosy bed, and to love and be loved in return."
Starra Neely Blade (via thatkindofwoman)
(Source: tomywonder, via thatkindofwoman)
A Blessing for Good Friday
We never
would have wished it
to come to this
yet we call
these moments holy
as we hold you
Holy the tending
holy the winding
holy the leaving
as in the living
Holy the silence
holy the stillness
holy the turning
and returning to earth.
Blessed is the one
who came
in the name
blessed is the one
who laid
himself down
blessed is the one
emptied for us
blessed is the one
wearing the shroud.
Holy the waiting
holy the grieving
holy the shadows
and gathering night
Holy the darkness
holy the hours
holy the hope
turning toward light.
—Jan Richardson
I’d give almost anything to be wherever this picture was taken, right.now. #tiredofwinter
(Source: sweetnovember19, via c0mpromise)
{ This blessing is becoming an anthem of sorts, for my life right now. So beautiful. }
Blessing the Dust
A Blessing for Ash Wednesday
By Jan Richardson
All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners
or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—
Did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?
This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.
This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.
This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.
So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are
but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.
(http://paintedprayerbook.com/2013/02/08/ash-wednesday-blessing-the-dust/#.UTp8Zo7C9zo)
(Source: willowtreesanddreams, via takemetothemtns)
(Source: countrywisher, via a-slice-of-awesome)
