God Bless You Candy

I was tasked with calling priests today.  Lots and lots of priests. 

It. Was. AWESOME!

I actually thanked my coworker for dropping what everyone else thinks is "crap work" into my lap because it meant that I'd be talking to priests.  More specifically, though, I'd be saying "goodbye" to these priests. 

This meant they'd also be saying "goodbye" to me. 

And I dunno about the rest of you, but in my experience, almost every single priest I've had the pleasure of speaking with has typically ended their goodbye with a "God Bless you."

So I happily began making my calls with the excited knowledge that I was about to be inundated with about 50 priestly blessings!!!  One of my coworkers actually shook his head and laughed at my enthusiasm saying, "The strangest things make you happy."

*Grin*  He's right.  But I don't think being excited about a priestly blessing is strange.  It might not be "normal" considering society's current disdain for anything religious, but a priestly blessing is still something incredibly special - even if the priest giving it is passing it along mechanically.

So off I go making my calls.  Imagine my surprise when the first, second, third... tenth phone call I make is closed with a simple "goodbye."

I was so confused. 

Out of the 50 or so phone calls I made, I got maybe 5 blessings. 

...

I voiced my surprise to one of my coworkers.  I mean, if I had the awesome ability to dole out priestly blessings to people, I'd be doing it all the time!  I love being able to give something to folks that makes them happy.  It's the reason why I keep a well-stocked candy jar on my desk.

I've always got SOMETHING to give in order to brighten another's day.  My coworkers all thoroughly enjoy my candy jar.  In fact, most swing by my desk at least 5 times a day in order to snag a box of Nerds or a Tootsie midget. 

If candy makes us happy, how much MORE happy should a priestly blessing make us?  How much more excited should we be to receive such a priceless treasure?

And considering how happy and satisfied offering random candy makes me, how much more so would I be to offer a priestly blessing to people?  I really WOULD be handing them out like candy!!!

To be able to offer those blessings is a gift.  To be able to receive it is a blessing, too.  I have to admit being thoroughly bummed by the lack of blessings doled out over those 50+ calls.  I wasn't sad that I didn't get to stock-pile blessings, mind you.  I was sad at the knowledge that if these priests weren't doling them out to me, they might not be doling them out to others, either.

And that's a whole lot of wasted opportunity to help Divine Providence along.

Maybe I've just been super spoiled by wonderful priests my entire life.  My current pastor always closes every conversation with a blessing.  My family's main priest-friend always closes every conversation with a blessing.  The random sprinkling of priests I've needed to speak with over the years have always closed conversations with a blessing.  Even the wonderful man I went to school with (ordained a few years ago) used to close our conversations with a blessing.

I've either been INCREDIBLY lucky to know priests who know the value of their blessing, or I' was incredibly UNlucky in those 50+ calls I made. 

I dunno.  I admit being slightly unsettled by the thought.  That being said, I was super grateful for all those priests who've given their blessings over the years.  I actually wanted to call up a few of them, but I decided against it.  I didn't want to call attention to the fact and make them feel self-conscious about it.  I'm glad their blessings are second-nature.  :)

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