Ask me for a blessing (you know you need one)

Who couldn't use a blessing--just a bit of grace, a kind word, a sympathetic ear? Episcopalian priest Dannhauser, who serves an active congregation in Manhattan, has been offering blessings to strangers for the last five years. Dressed in her formal vestments, she stands on the sidewalk outside her church with a sandwich board that reads "Ask me for a blessing." In this funny, touching, and inspirational account, Dannhauser shares anecdotes about the passers-by she's met, along with her musings on faith, spirituality, gratitude, grief, doubt, and love. Sharing personal experiences and encounters (a stranger on the subway once admired her ecumenical collar and asked what designer she was wearing), she's a great storyteller. Dannhauser maintains an empathetic, inclusive voice, and her care and concern are contagious. One of Dannhauser's regulars once told the author that, after receiving a blessing, she began to notice a "string of sacredness all around her." This book is a lovely blessing in itself, encouraging readers to look for signs of love and keep them flowing.

Dannhauser, a priest at Church of the Incarnation in Manhattan, debuts with a compassionate meditation on the power of blessings. The author reflects on what she's learned about faith from her weekly practice of administering prayers to strangers on the street while standing outside her Midtown church with a sign that reads, "Ask me for a blessing." She lays out the philosophy of her sidewalk chats and posits that "evangelism is simply about speaking the truth of God's grace, love, and mercy into people's lives." Dannhauser details notable conversations she's had, recounting a man who kneeled for a blessing with a drink in his hand and food in his mouth, as well as a drunk young woman who found comfort after opening up about an unrequited love. The author suggests that the utility of such conversations lies in their ability to draw in people who might not be actively religious and let them know that "God is always looking to honor and affirm the good in us." The anecdotes make for captivating miniature character portraits that brim with folk wisdom, as when a cancer survivor's thankfulness for the support he received from loved ones led Dannhauser to conclude that the "truest form of gratitude to God has humility at its heart." The result makes for a touching Christian variation on Humans of New York, with humanity and insight to spare. (Sept.)