Rabbi's blessing

The Friday before we left we went to services to get in one last spiritual session with friends and family.  On this specific Friday it was family services and the Rabbi always does birthdays and anniversaries for that month.  It just so happened to be our anniversary the day before and we were required to go up front and be sung a blessing to for our three year anniversary.  Then thinking we were finishes with our blessings for the night, the Rabbi says everybody can sit down except you two, speak of me and Carrie of course.  He started telling the congregation about how we were leaving to go to Korea for a year, even though most everyone in the room already knew.  Then he said Wayfarers’ Prayer.*   At that moment I felt that this was finally becoming more real. 

*Adonai shall guard your coming and your going from this time forth and forever (Ps. 121:7)

God within and beyond us, Your Presence pervades the world.  Wherever we go, You are near to us.  “If I take up the wings of the morning, and dwell on the ocean’s farthest shore, even there Your hand will lead me, Your strong hand will hold me” (Ps. 139:9--10).

Now that Brad and Carrie begin a new journey, they turn to You in confidence and trust, for You have always been a light unto their path.  May they go forth in health and safely reach their destination.  May this journey not be in vain; and let them return in contentment to their home and their dear ones.  Then will their travels be truly blessed.  Amen.

Baruch Atah, Adonai, Shomeir ha-nos’im

Blessed are You, Adonai, Protector of wayfarers.