Blessing

May the imagination of God, which created life from darkness,
flood your minds and hearts with light
so that you may go from here with eyes to see the flame
of God's love in each stone and leaf and sunrise;

And may your eyes be opened
to God's presence in each face you behold,
so that you may be moved with compassion
to enter into the world's joy and suffering.

Amen.

I wrote this blessing to close our service today, which is all about John the Baptist, that enigmatic forerunner of Jesus.  John preached against complacency; as Kierkegaard once wrote, he is the example of what a Christ-follower should be: alert to the suffering of the world, he was a person who gave all that he had to the poor.

Martin will sing the Rich Mullin's song "Everywhere I go, I see you."  I hope this blessing, which calls for the renewal of our imaginations--and thus our compassion--will be a good send-off.