A Pat On The Head

While reading Psalm 139 recently, I came to verse five: “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” Sometimes it feels like a very heavy hand. It feels that way at times because I foolishly equate blessing with good health, lots of friends, a “get out of jail free” card to use as necessary, tickets to the World Series, a dog that never barks at the wrong times, and a partridge in a pear tree. Blessing is what makes me feel good. Thanks be to God! More, please. But that hand gets heavy when I remember that “blessing” is much more than moments that make me feel good. A major component of blessing is responsibility, even accountability. I am blessed to bless. I receive in order to give. I am not the destination of the blessing; I am the distribution center. Without doubt I am thankful for the hand on my head, but it’s not a hand that pats me and says “Good boy!” I feel that hand turn my head toward the direction of injustice or pain, refocus my looking until I see with new eyes and hear with new ears. Trust me, I love blessings And I am grateful. But, I have to keep telling myself that blessings don’t stop here. I believe that pat on my head has two purposes: to foster in me a sense of spiritual gratitude and to frame my life in relation to the beloved creation.

Thank you, blessed Spirit, for resting your hand on my head. Show me what I need to see and fill me with the joy of your touch. Amen.