Benedictus

An acquaintance's father passed away recently. I was at a loss for words when it came to writing something in the sympathy card. I knew that she was religious. But I knew nothing of her relationship with her family. Did she get along with her dad? Did they even talk? [There were intimations that they did not get along.] Was there a lot of familial bullshit surrounding the funeral and travel arrangements?

I didn't want to risk sounding empty and presumptuous and inane.

I gave it some thought, went back to my desk, played the Strawbs' wonderful Benedictus on my iPod to get the lyrics right:

Bless the daytime
Bless the night
Bless the sun which gives us light

Bless the thunder
Bless the rain
Bless all those who cause us pain

Bless the free man
Bless the slave
Bless the hero in his grave

Bless the soldier
Bless the saint
Bless all those whose hearts grow faint

and wrote on the card the Zen-like

Bless the daytime
Bless the night
Bless the sun which gives us light

Bless the thunder
Bless the rain
Bless all those things that cause us pain