Welcome 2025!

For you, for the new year: a blessing that has been waiting for you to arrive. As we cross into 2025, may we find it—and make it—a welcoming kind of year.

BLESSING THE THRESHOLD

This blessing

has been waiting for you

for a long time.

While you have been

making your way here,

this blessing has been

gathering itself,

making ready,

biding its time,

praying.

This blessing has been

polishing the door,

oiling the hinges,

sweeping the steps,

lighting candles

in the windows.

This blessing has been

setting the table

as it hums a tune

from an old song

it knows,

something about

a spiraling road

and bread

and grace.

All this time

it has kept an eye

on the horizon,

watching,

keeping vigil,

hardly aware of how

it was leaning itself

in your direction.

And now that

you are here,

this blessing

can hardly believe

its good fortune

that you have finally arrived,

that it can drop everything

at last

to fling its arms wide

to you, crying

welcome,

welcome,

welcome.

—Jan Richardson