God of QueernessBless this rainbow coffee shopIn this red-state townAnd all of the folksWho work here and patronize this placeIt is a rare spaceThat exudes belonging, acceptanceWith comforting drinksAnd mismatched couchesIt is the only Church of JazzOn a Sunday morningWhere all of the local misfitsCome to venerate a communal divineWho is experienced throughOur senses as…
A blessing for Sunstone
Dear God,We are here with an odd collectionOf Restoration misfitsHoused under a single roof for a weekend.We ask a blessing of low dramaThat our minds and hearts will be turnedToward listening and relationshipsToward understanding the things we don’t understandLead us to buy books and kitsch for good causes.Many who are hereAre seeking the belonging they…
A blessing for those who need the Mother
There is no blessing that I can give youTo take the pain away.I cannot offer false promises of healingI hold no magical powers to alter the universe. I do feelThat the Mother God is holding you closeThat her love for you is fierceAs the One True Badass Bitch of the UniverseShe ragesMama-Bear styleOn behalf of…
A blessing for the animals
Dear God,The blessing we are seekingIs for our companions in quarantine,For all the creatures in our lives,Our pets and the animals we encounter. God, we are grateful for the guinea pigs,Rescue dogs and shelter cats,Backyard chickens and goats,Rabbits and birds,Chameleons and snakes. God, we give thanks forThe hummingbirds who visit our neighborhoods,The ladybugs and lizards…
A blessing for doing the work
You should knowAs you are committing to doing the workThat it is never glamorousIt always comes with unexpected costsIt will probably beMuch more difficult than you expect.We want to think that the wrestle with evils in our societyIs Noble Dignified RighteousBut they often look likeWestling with our ownRacismour ownHomophobiaour ownTransphobiaour ownClassicismour ownAblism.It will make us…
A blessing for those who are transitioning
God who sees,God who sees our heartsGod who knows our true selvesHold our belovedAs they embrace their courageAnd make changes in their lifeThat reveal their hidden selves.God of this seeing and knowing,Remind us thatKnowingHonoringCaring forOurselves is the greatest gift.Grant our beloved the courageTo move through the worldAnd know they are lovedThat they and others will…
A blessing for those who are coming out
God of courageBe with thoseWho are sharing their truthSurround them with affirmationsThe love of friends and familyRemind the family who are uncertainThat we do not need to understandIn order to loveRemind us allThat self knowledgeIs its own form of graceIts own divine giftAnd hard-wonGrant us the imaginationTo see those who have come outAs happyTo share…
A blessing for all of the queer folks
This is a blessingTo remind youWith strength and gentlenessThat your body is a templeWhole and beautifulWorthy and unique.You need no special documentationTo inhabit itOr possess itBecause it is entirely yoursSanctified by a GodWho knows your pronounsWhose gender is reflected in youWho loves the people you love.This God sees your temple bodyAs sacred and holy.Misunderstanding men…
Blessings, Prayers, and Poems at the Exponent
In the last handful of years or so, I’ve written a lot of blessings and prayers. Some of these have proved to be useful beyond the initial giving and I want to share them all here. The links below are to prayers and blessings that I have posted on The Exponent Blog. I plan to…
Old God, New God
Writing about the ways in which my understanding of God has changed feels incredibly personal and vulnerable. I’m still not entirely sure why this is, but it feels like there are few things about this change that I’m able to share easily in public. So I share this will the full realization that some people…
The Contemplative Heretic 