Five Minute Friday :: Benediction

• Five Minute Friday :: Benediction Linkup

I love Kate's description of getting her house ready for overnight! Benediction is the prompt this week; we frequently connect that word with the end – or close to the end – of worship. In my tradition, the worship leader or leaders bless the gathered assembly, sometimes after suggesting "receive the benediction" (maybe to wake them up), but the last formal component of Sunday worship is a charge or sending that happens after the benediction, after everyone is fully blessed and prepared to bless.

A benediction conveys well-being: bene=well, good; diction=speak, speech

A benediction is a blessing; for me the word connotes broad and inclusive, like Kate preparing her house for the night. Like the pastor or liturgist blessing the assembly.

A benediction is a channel of grace, of unearned favor, an offer of life as a gift. The taped-on sign outside a now defunct First Church says "Come and Take It" as it pictures bread and cup.

Let's look beyond conventional blessings / benedictions such as food, presence, hugs, sleep, understanding, presents. A benediction is a channel of grace, of unearned favor, an offer of life as a gift.

"The benediction of the neon light" in Jackson Browne's Tender is the Night haunts me. The benediction of the neon light. "Come and take it!"

• Tender is the Night lyrics

Besides sunlight, friends, opportunities, and good food, what benediction do I long to experience? The kitchen at dawn is my first and best and always. It even feels a little like the opposite of Kate's nighttime benediction. In a commonplace book I wrote, "the kitchen at dawn takes you back." Takes me back to where and when? The kitchen at dawn takes you back and encourages you to move forward in hope to begin a full new day. Or maybe this will be a day of prayer, reflection, observation, and surprise. Come and take it!

Blessing God's people needs to be a constant in our lives because God constantly blesses us. Because God blesses us, we can reciprocate! We come and take it and then we bless God by blessing God's people into another chance at life. Speaking and acting well and good to all.

I'll start with the kitchen at dawn. And then?

Starshine • Dawn • Sunshine

• The Call sings to us Let the Day Begin


• Arizona Sunrise on August 23,. 2017 by Joe D on Flickr

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