Blessing for a summer vacation

Take time to claim your strength;
they are gifts of God.
Take time to have fun;
it’s God’s way of teaching you your strengths.
Take time to grow yourself;
only you can grow you.
Take time to trust yourself;
God trusts you.
Take time to be self-reliant;
it is better than being dependent.
Take time to share with others;
they will bless you, and you will bless them.
Take time to have hope,
you are a child of God.

- Blessing for Summer Vacation (source unknown)

Image "Family" courtesy of arztsamui  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

An Iona blessing

May God, who is present

in sunrise and nightfall,

and in the crossing of the sea,

guide your feet as you go.

May God,

who is with you when you sit

and when you stand,

encompass you with love

and lead you by the hand.

May God, who knows your path

and the places where you rest,

be with you in your waiting

be your good news for sharing,

and lead you in the way

that is everlasting.

- A blessing from Iona

Photo - Old stone cross on Iona by me

A prayer by David Adam

"Lord you are in this place, 

Fill us with your power, 

Cover us with your peace, 

Show us your presence.

Lord help us to know, 

We are in your hands, 

We are under your protection, 

We are covered by your love.

Lord we ask you, today, 

To deliver us from evil, 

To guide us in our travels, 

To defend us from all harm.

Lord give us now,

Eyes to see the invisible, 

Ears to hear your call, 

Hands to do your work, 

And hearts to respond to your love."

(David Adam, 'Border Lands')

Photo by me of Iona 

Summer blessing

Blessing of discovery be yours

and blessing of rest.

Blessing of scenery be yours

and blessing of sleep.

Blessing of friends and family be yours

and blessing of solitude.

Blessing of fun be yours

and blessing of thought.

Blessing of change be yours

and blessing of homecoming.

Image "Family" courtesy of arztsamui  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

John Philip Newell prayer

"O Sun behind all suns
O Soul within all souls
grant me the grace of the dawn's glory
grant me the strength of the sun's rays
that I may be well in my own soul
and part of the world's healing this day
that I may be well in my own soul
and part of the world's healing this day."
- John Philip Newell


 Image courtesy of Photokanok / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Alone with God

"Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart,
alone with you, God, holy to you.
Then with the turning of the tide
prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
the world that rushes in on me
till the waters come again and fold me back to you." 
- Prayer of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne


Photo by me - a beach on Iona

God's promise

Dear God
Speak gently in my silence.
When the outer noises of my surroundings
and the loud inner voices of my fears
keep pulling me away from you,
help me to trust that you are still there
even when I am unable to hear you.
Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:
'Come to me, you who are overburdened,
And I will give you rest'.
- Thomas Keating

 Image "Yellow Cosmos Flower And Blue Sky" courtesy of Sura Nualpradid / FreeDigitalPhotos.net