Unexpected Kisses of a Star-Filled Sky

Yesterday I went to Basingstoke to pick up some things for my trip to Italy. I got a library card - without having to prove my address or residency! - and borrowed some tour books and an Italian phrase book. I love libraries! The borrowing period is four weeks so I'll be able to take the books along to Italy. I also went to a bookstore and purchased an Italian road map book. My parents gave me a GPS as my going-away present but I find a map helpful for reference and just in case the GPS dies.

My library books... I still find it hard to believe I'm really going to Italy.

There's a couple from my church who pick me up every week and they've also brought me back to their place for lunch every week... and I usually end up spending the afternoon and go to the evening service with them. Ian and Maggie have been really welcoming and they've invited other couples for lunch for the past couple of weeks so it's been nice to get to know others from church as well. I'm slowly putting together names and faces at church and people have started coming up to me to introduce themselves and say, "You're Amanda, right? I've heard about you; just wanted to introduce myself." Not sure what stories are going around, but in a relatively small church, a crazy Canadian doesn't blend in very well.

During the evening service this past Sunday there was a reading of Prodigal Blessing by Gerard Kelly from his book, Spoken Worship (2007). Although some of the text is clearly aimed at a prodigal whose back is turned to God, much of the poem resonated with my experiences of living here and travelling alone. (If, like me, you're confused by the use of the word "gratuity", one of the definitions is: an award [as for meritorious service] given without claim or obligation.) Here's the complete poem in the hope that it provides encouragement to some of you.

May you always know where the road home begins
and have the courage to walk the first mile.
May you never be too far from a lifeline
and never too far gone to dial.

May you know that the God who pursues you
is a hunter whose bullets bleed mercy.
May artful accidents of grace
explode at every turn of your journey.

May you trip over truth and fall headlong into hope.
May redemption rain down all around you.
May God's glory catch you napping
and God's story catch your breath,
and God's gratuity perpetually astound you.

May choices you thought you made at random
turn out to be the key to moving on.
May the darkness that sometimes surrounds you
prove to be the moment before dawn.

May you bathe in the light of a prodigal sun
and be nourished by a generous earth.
May the struggles you meet make you stronger
and even old wounds bring new wonders to birth.

May the unplanned kindnesses of strangers
bring to mind a long forgotten song.
May the unexpected kisses of a star-filled sky
remind you of where you belong.

And even if you never return to find peace
amongst those who have so loved and so hurt you,
May you seek your soul's redeemer
and connect with your creator
and make your home
with the father who waits for you.

May you trip over truth and fall headlong into hope.
May redemption rain down all around you.
May God's glory catch you napping
and God's story catch your breath,
and God's gratuity perpetually astound you.