Pause.

This blessing

has been waiting for you

for a long time.

 

While you have been

making your way here

this blessing has been

gathering itself

making ready

biding its time

praying.

 

This blessing has been

polishing the door

oiling the hinges

sweeping the steps

lighting candles

in the windows.

 

This blessing has been

setting the table

as it hums a tune

from an old song

it knows,

something about

a spiraling road

and bread

and grace.

 

All this time

it has kept an eye

on the horizon,

watching,

keeping vigil,

hardly aware of how

it was leaning itself

in your direction.

 

And now that

you are here

this blessing

can hardly believe

its good fortune

that you have finally arrived,

that it can drop everything

at last

to fling its arms wide

to you, crying

welcome

welcome

welcome.

– Jan Richardson, Blessing the Threshold

 

“Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already — you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.”   

– Isaiah 43:18-19