A Blessing for Openings

Blessed are You
Lord our God
Queen of the Universe
For openings—
A break in the clouds
A hole in a tree
A path through underbrush

Blessed are You 
For boxed parcels
And bagged gifts
The eagerness that rises in me
To unwrap, receive, connect
Open arms
Open seat
Open heart

Blessed are You
Lord our God
Queen of the Universe
For my favorite shoes by the back door
open for my feet
For wide-mouthed tulips
And the expectant gape of baby birds
For the “always open” sign at Your house
Inviting me in again and again

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A Blessing for Closures

Blessed are You
Lord our God
Queen of the Universe
For closures—
Sealed cocoon
Den of hibernation
Contraction of womb post-birth

Blessed are You
For coats zipped against the cold
The way I hold my nose against garish smells
How my eyes close to shut out light
Or hold in dreams
Or await a surprise

Blessed are You
Lord our God
Queen of the Universe
For the miracle under my bandage—
Skin closing to keep my insides in
And my outsides out
The way Your love encloses me
And heals me again and again