Take a moment to breathe.
Close your eyes if you're comfortable.
Begin to breathe.
We continue our pilgrimage songs series with Psalm 134,
A psalm of blessing.
Hear now these words.
Now bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord,
Who stand nightly in the house of the Lord.
Lift your hands toward the sanctuary and bless the Lord.
May the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Bless you from Zion.
Take a moment and receive this blessing from the center of love and grace.
For just a moment,
Don't react and give yourself the gift of reflection,
Of sitting still,
Of being part of something larger than yourself,
Yet yourself fully.
Come in contact with your breath.
Breathe in,
Breathe out.
Trace your breath.
Sense the chest rising and falling.
Now begin to notice the sensations in your body.
Observe the thoughts or the story going through your mind.
That's what your brain does.
It thinks.
Your heart beats.
Your mind thinks.
Appreciate in this moment that thoughts are not facts.
Find your breath.
Now explore your emotions and get a sense of where you are in this present moment.
Now,
Bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord who stand nightly in the house of the Lord.
Lift your hands toward the sanctuary and bless the Lord.
May the Lord maker of heaven and earth bless you from Zion.
The one whose name is compassion and mercy stands with you even in the darkness.
That may be a blessing in these difficult and dark times.
Find your breath and receive the blessing of being right here right now for this moment.
Let the sound of a bell awakened to the blessing that is within you.
