Lazarus Blessing by Jan Richardson

The secret

of this blessing

is that it is written

on the back

of what binds you.

To read

this blessing,

you must take hold

of the end

of what

confines you,

must begin to tug

at the edge

of what wraps

you round.

It may take long

and long

for its length

to fall away,

for the words

of this blessing

to unwind

in folds

about your feet.

By then

you will no longer

need them.

By then this blessing

will have pressed itself

into your waking flesh,

will have passed

into your bones,

will have traveled

every vein

until it comes to rest

inside the chambers

of your heart

that beats to

the rhythm

of benediction



and the cadence

of release.

—Jan Richardson

from Circle of Grace: A Book of

Blessings for the Season