Allowing Hope to Happen

In Jan Richardson’s latest book, How the Stars Get in Your Bones, the renowned writer, artist, and ordained United Methodist minister offers a collection of blessings that settle deep in the area just behind the rib cage.

Richardson groups these blessings into three sections. The first, under the heading “And the Table Will Be Wide” are blessings of welcome or hospitality. In the second section, she describes “What the Night Is For” with blessings of healing. Lastly, the remaining collection of blessings bear “Witness of That Light” and center around sendings or commissioning.

Regardless of the section, there is one overarching theme that pervades all of Richardson’s blessings: allowing hope to happen. At a time when many of us need a bit of hope, she makes it happen at every turn of page. 

In her blessing “And the Table Will Be Wide,” Richardson invites us to open up everything—and not just to open, but to open widely. From a wide table, to a wide welcome, to wide open arms, to wide open hearts, we open it all in order to receive. We open up wide to receive bread, to receive wine, to receive each other with a fullness and without fear. And when we have satisfied and delighted our appetite, we will in turn become the bread, wine, and blessing to others—bread for the hungry, wine for the thirsty, blessings for everyone everywhere.

“What the Night Is For” opens with a heart in sorrow, darkness, and broken pieces like glass strewn about.  Instead of trying to put the pieces back into their places, Richardson proposes that perhaps it’s time to let the pieces stay where they lay…that it’s time to allow the heart to weep and mourn and sit in the sadness for a bit. And then, when ready, to scatter them above and below…it matters not where. And in time, the shards will shimmer and shine and light the way from here.

And finally, in the last portion of the book’s blessings, Richardson begins “Witness of that Light” with a powerful sense of anticipation of something good and wonderful, telling us that we don’t know how or when it will come, but that a brightness makes its home in our bones and a light illuminates our hearts. And when that gift comes from some place we cannot see, we should simply share with all who will listen about the grace we’ve been shown, and allow this gift to shine from every part of our being to everyone and everything we encounter. 

These are just three samples of the hope that Richardson makes happen in her latest offering to the world. When we receive this hope with arms open wide, we are better prepared for the times when our hearts will break, as the broken places are indeed where the light gets in and also shines from. And this is how the stars get in our bones.

Angie Maher

Donor Engagement Associate

Mennonite Central Committee