At the Bull Feeney pub in Portland, I heard Kate Chadbourne tell stories, sing songs, play the Irish harp.  The evening was magical and the room was lit with love.  Kate has written 40 well wishes in the last year.  She has set up a web site www.wellwishingsongs.com on which people may request a well wishing song.  She opens her heart to the spirit and composes a song; it may sound like jazz or blues or rock or a soft ballad.  It offers a blessing whether for a new baby, in hopes for healing an illness, in celebration of an accomplishment, or to soften the sharp pain of new grief.

And I thought, how lovely.  Then upon further reflection I wondered: what if our lives were shaped in a way to offer well wishes to those in need?  What if each one of us met people on our path and blessed them on the way?  Imagine if strangers and friends were open enough to ask for a well-wish, a blessing for a particular place of joy or pain.  Imagine if we shaped the time in our day to allow heartbeats and breath to pause and bless those who crossed our path.  Imagine if a stranger’s celebration became your rejoicing.  Imagine if a neighbor’s pain beckoned your voice to speak words of prayer.  Imagine if each one of us were a fount of blessing, a well of good wishes, a receptacle of grace, a source of hope.

I suspect you need not be a song-writer to accomplish this spiritual feat.  Each one of us has our own unique creativity.  You might send a card, listen well, or smile with your eyes.  Whether you consider yourself artistic or not, your presence in life reflects God’s creativity.  And to the extent that you choose to give well-wishes to those who cross your path today, you will be engaging in this beautiful and artistic work of human living.