My son left home this morning. Packed his car to the ceiling and stuffed a grocery bag full of carrots, peanut butter, bread and energy bars into a left over hole. He’s left home before—two years in Northern Ireland a few years ago. As with most men at age 23, this will probably, hopefully, be his last time leaving home.
He’s headed to Massachusetts to discover adventure and his future. I prayed this blessing for him this morning from To Bless the Space Between Us, A Book of Blessings by John O’Donohue.
Every time you leave home,
Another road takes you
Into a world you were never in.
New strangers on other paths await,
New places that have never seen you
Will startle a little at your entry.
Old places that know you well
Will pretend nothing
Changed since your last visit.
When you travel, you find yourself
Alone in a different way,
More attentive now
To the self you bring along,
Your more subtle eye watching
You abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart
That lies low at home.
Well…I’ll let you find the rest of the blessing hidden amidst many more daily blessings and experiences in To Bless the Space Between Us.
Go forth and conquer, Jonathan. Our prayers and blessings go with you.
In Him together, Mom
Four down and two to go. My nest will become empty someday.
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