This is a sacred time,
gathering here on the cusp of change,
this is in-between time,
like dusk on a summer night,
This moment
holds opposites of light and dark,
clarity and obscurity
tears and hope.
This is mystery time,
standing with one hand
on the garden gate:
behind us the familiar,
the comfortable and
perhaps even still, the preferred,
We have to pause
breathe deeply
and take a moment
to declare our blessings.
We declare ourselves to be blessed
by the mother of all hearts,
the earth, this land, beneath our feet.
This land participates in beatific visions
with dancing clouds and sun,
wind and rain, colored leaves
countless miraculous flowers in Spring
wild animals and ancient wisdom trees.
This land has been gentle shock absorber
for countless upset and restless steps,
healer, sustainer, home to incredible diversity of life,
open space, farm and camp.
We declare this land to be a sacred blessing.
We declare ourselves to be blessed
by the people of the heart who have lived here at SDC.
Men and women with oceanic compassion
incapable of judgement,
who like us feel shame, regret and pride,
who grieve, and love and laugh,
Men and women who inexplicably give back more than they ever receive from those who care for them.
These people of the heart share the humanity
and dignity of all humankind.
The bond of trust we have with them is sacred.
We declare ourselves to be blessed
by those heroes of the heart
who are parents and family members
of the men and women
who have lived at SDC.
Families who faithfully included their
loved one in family life as best they could,
who have not wavered in dedication
advocacy and support
especially by membership in the
Parent Hospital Association.
The faithful bond between families
and their loved one residing at SDC
has been sacred and must not be diminished.
We declare ourselves to be blessed
by those heroes of the heart
who’s amazing capacity for commitment,
cooperation, creativity, fun, organization, professional expertise, and constant loving care
have enabled this institution
to be a home for all these years.
Adding music, parties, musical productions and parades,
Evacuating during a crises,
and more so reorganizing on their return,
these heroes of the heart have enabled persons
to live as much as 70 years past their
life expectancy.
Every task of caring effort
in every small moment is blessing
and is sacred in our hearts.
We declare to be blessing those heroes of the heart
in the larger community who we honor here today.
Individuals who have dedicated their precious life’s time
in service to the common good,
who work to preserve
to evolve
to protect
and to enable
all that is good, healthy, life-giving
and society-enhancing in this valley.
The bond of trust these heroes of the heart
have with all of us is sacred.
We have to admit we sometimes
hear whispering voices of ancient ghosts
who would speak of the suffering
imposed on them in ignorance or worse
by caretakers of another time.
We pause to tell you ghosts
our regret and our sorrow
for whatever has trapped you here,
We encourage you to trust the light
that calls you.
May you finally know freedom,
healing, and warm peace
So many blessings!
Our backpacks are full of blessings.
we look ahead at the path before us,
see mist hanging in the woods
and promise of sunlight
later in the day.
We have a sacred bond with all our blessings
and we must not trash what we treasure
Here at the garden gate
these blessings are not contained by time.
They are our story our legacy and our future
as much as they are meant
to warm our hands on future frosty nights.
We may not always take perfect steps
and we may not always know perfect solutions.
Still we chose to move forward with courage and faith
We ask for steady steps, wise caution and creative progress, deep wisdom and an ever increasing capacity for love,
In all our efforts,
may we know the true, deep, and overflowing joy
that comes from knowing our life’s work
contributes to a better world
for those who follow.
Amen.
Chaplain Noelani Sheckler-Smith BCC