Oro tra le spighe

The offering can be accepted without opening the vessel. Its contents remain together; they have not yet entered the life of whoever receives them. That delay belongs to the gift and may be prolonged.

We had allowed less room for what lies scattered, received a little at a time after the attention that released it has turned elsewhere. Gathering it requires a posture easily mistaken for reverence. The hands continue their work inside that mistake. There is still grain within reach, and no reason for the body to straighten.

In this second passage, the giver’s presence changes very little. Someone may approach with an offering while the earlier giving continues at their feet. We must allow the two transactions to overlap for some time.