Blessing for the Wild

As Adam left the Garden
With Eve close by his side,
As inward, hearts were hardened,
And eastward, daylight died,
With all creation heaving,
With all in disarray,
God spoke, as they were leaving,
And blessed them on their way:

"For ev'ry child, a mountain
That they alone can climb;
A place that's never crowded,
To rest from time to time:
A shelter from the thunder,
A path by quiet streams,
A wilderness for wonder,
A nursery for dreams.
And when your foot should falter 
On journeys rough and steep,
Each mountain is an altar,
And I My own will keep.

“For ev’ry child, a calling,
An eager race to run;
A sprinting, limping, crawling
Until the setting sun
To strive to do it better,
To often taste defeat,
To shake off ev’ry fetter,
To find the vict’ry sweet.
And when you dwell on failings,
On all your aches and pains,
I’ll meet you in your ailings
Until you’re off again.

"For ev'ry child, a shoulder
With many burdens hung,
To cherish when you're older,
To scoff at while you're young;
To offer to your neighbors
When they are full of tears,
To join them in their labors,
Their sorrows, and their fears. 
And when the weight grows weary,
Beyond what you can bear,
I'll draw you ever near Me
And take your yoke from there.

"For ev’ry child, a story
That’s all their own to write,
To fill their days with glory
And share by firelight.
A tale of triumph seasons,
A song of deepest woes,
Full up with rhymes and reasons
And grace through highs and lows.
And when, in evening’s splendour,
You pen your final line,
Come tell it to Me, tender,
And I will tell you Mine.

“For ev’ry child, a treasure,
That they may love the best;
To prize above all measure,
Much diff’rent than the rest.
The marvel of each daybreak,
That which they most would miss,
A source of frequent heartache,
A spring of endless bliss.
And when, from this, you’re parted,
And full of deep despair,
I hold the brokenhearted,
And in all grief I share.

“For ev’ry child, a yearning
For something more than self,
That can’t be fixed through learning,
That can’t be quenched with wealth,
A thirst that can’t be sated,
A hole that can’t be filled,
A breath that’s always bated,
A wind that’s never stilled.
And when you’re feeling hollow
And restless in your soul
Come, follow, follow, follow,
And I will make you whole.

“For ev’ry child, a question
To hold inside their heart;
A murmur, a suggestion
That’s been there from the start.
You knew it back in Eden,
The answer can be found;
It’s all you’ve ever needed,
It’s written all around
In ev’ry far-flung forest,
In ev’ry star-strung sky,
In ev’ry echoing chorus,
In ev’ry tearful eye,
In ev’ry earnest promise,
In ev’ry passing glance,
In ev’ry doubting Thomas,
In ev’ry second chance,
In ev’ry joyful starting
Whenever you may roam
In ev’ry word of parting
And ev’ry ‘welcome home.’
And each time you forget it,
You needn’t look too far;
Come, ask Me for the secret,
I’ll tell you who you are.”

And as the sun receded
As Adam stood with Eve,
They turned their eyes from Eden,
And Eden watched them leave.
And over their endeavors,
Into the unknown Wild,
God spoke these blessings ever
To each and ev’ry child.