New Peril

May you be gifted just enough grace to rise yet again when you have fallen
But not so much that you lose sense of the wonder and peril of the journey

May the angels of Gethsemane lift you up in the hour of your despair
But not so high that you fail to learn the lessons despair is teaching

May you have humility enough to accept gifts sincerely given
And charity enough to pass them along

May you have the simplicity of heart to know faith
And the strength of heart to endure all that faith entails

May you have wisdom enough to say, “I don’t know”
And patience enough to seek out those answers that are not apparent

And in your last hour…
As you contemplate the final things…
May you be blessed with the dream of flight.
Soaring to your rest above the still and ungathered waters that preceded the first day.