Among other things, to bless is to desire unrestricted good for others. Of course, giving a blessing has been around since the beginning of recorded history and is part of all sacred religious traditions. A blessing acknowledges the hidden beauty we may not see with our human eyes. To bless is to send out energy to both the bestower of the gift and the receiver.
Several years ago, I went to a coffee shop in New York City. I noticed a man sitting nearby as I looked for a table to sit at and drink coffee. The man seemed a bit strange to me. He had a plastic glove on his hand and was vigorously writing in a notebook. When I walked by him, I looked to see what he was writing. To my surprise, he was scribbling lines on a page. It was a sight to behold. I sat a few tables from the man and continued to observe him. I sensed he had mental challenges. And because of how he was furiously writing, I just knew at any moment his pen would run out of ink.
I then noticed an elderly couple come into the shop. They appeared to be tourists. They went to the table where the man was writing the lines in the notebook, took the chairs near him, then proceeded to go as far away as they could. They seemed afraid of him.
A little while later, a young man sat down with the couple and started talking with them. After chatting for a while, he noticed the man furiously writing in the notebook. He came toward the man, stood next to him, and patted him on the shoulder. He then said to the man, "Good job, good job. Have a nice day".
Rather than judge the man (which I was doing) or be fearful of him, the young man gave him a blessing and demonstrated divine care for him. The approval made the vigorous writer very happy. He smiled. Perhaps no one else had interacted with him in that way.
As I witnessed this interchange, it was a fantastic display of acknowledgment, appreciation, blessing, and non-judgment. That simple act touched and reached the man. There was a communication that broke through the belief that the writer was strange. By saying, "Good job. Have a nice day", the young man connected with him on a heart level.
I was amazed that the young man had the mind to reach the gentleman. He didn't give him a pen; instead, he gave him recognition. That young man saw the writer's hidden beauty, saw the truth about him, and blessed him with his words. That's all the man needed to do to make that writer's day.
Peace and Blessings,
James
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