by Jim Manney

I love the song “Blessed” by the country singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams for its celebration of humility. It’s about people–mostly obscure and suffering people–who bless us by simply being who they are. It’s a kind of litany. It could be an examen–a recollection of the way God blesses us through the people in our lives.

We were blessed by the minister

Who practiced what he preached

We were blessed by the poor man

Who said that heaven was within reach

We were blessed by the girl selling roses

Who showed us how to live

We were blessed by the neglected child

Who knew how to forgive

We were blessed by the battered woman

Who didn’t seek revenge

We were blessed by the warrior

Who didn’t need to win