Blessing Us Back into the Boat

A Blessing for Arriving at the Same Place Yet Again

(for which St. Brendan consults)

When once again you find yourself

where you ardently tried to never be again,

Take note.

~

“There is scant room for despair.

There is room only

for more pilgrimage.”

~

And so back into the tiny, rudderless boat

is the next step on the way.

And so back go you, with St. Brendan and God,

back into the mischievous sea.

~

For while every pilgrim knows that

death is part of the stakes,

some fates feel more grim.

Innumerable pilgrims survive!

So many return to some version of home…

back (again) in the selfsame spot …

feeling (anyway) so very, very changed.

~

So when once again you have laid bare your soul

and yet find the coracle beached on the same barren shore,

Take note.

~

Refuse to harden your heart.

Make tinker and tailor from sinker and sailor.

Call whales to the service of walking on water;

Call saints to the witness of suffering in stutters.

And speak blessings on being bidden back…

back into the boat.

Amen.