Pesach 5770 (Passover 2010)
Recently in worship at Barnstable Friends Meeting, a message was given about how sometimes it feels like the world is fracturing into billions of pieces. There are disasters at home, at work, difficulties with those we love and care for, with ourselves; but through it all we can rest assured that G-d is with us, that even though we cannot understand there is a higher good at work. All that is asked of us is to love and trust the divine presence. Another person spoke about the concept of gravity and how to her this is actually, in reality, love (i.e. gravity = love/attraction).
These messages brought to my mind the concept of tikkun olam, (repair of the world); the mystical tradition that tells the story that in creating the world G-d contracted and poured part of G-d's Self into vessels of Light. Unable to contain such power these vessels shattered, their myriad shards becoming sparks of light trapped within matter. Gravity is the means by which objects with mass attract one another. It causes dispersed matter to coalesce. This gravity, this love, is the primary tool we have to manifest G-d’s presence in the world. Our job is to find and connect these sparks within ourselves and each other, using the force of love to pull together and glue all the disparate shards and thus repair the world.
In working through the interpersonal difficulties which are inevitable in this life, what is able to get us through this is Love, the force of connection that binds us to each other and to the work that moves the world in a positive way. It is the basis for the Exodus story. All the difficulties of slavery, the plagues, yet G-d's love and miracles take us out of exile, bound together with a gravity of sorts as one people to be redeemed. During my walking prayers that evening I bent down to tie my shoe thinking about the state of things in the world. As I stood up I said "G-d have mercy" and out of the west heading north came one of the biggest shooting stars, comet like, I've seen in a long, long time. Maybe I was heard....
Here and now with all our own struggles, if we make the effort and as long as we are committed and honest (nothing can erode goodness faster then falsehood), love has enough power to move the most difficult situation with an unlimited amount left over. This is especially important for those of us who prioritize repairing the world. Love can became rekindled. But to truly effect a positive change, words must lead to action whether reaching out to an estranged friend or one in trouble, helping the homeless, visiting an elderly person without family, etc. In Bereishit G-d created with words yet what was created was a dynamic, action oriented environment and we are an essential part of that energetic system. Words by themselves and not sufficient to find the sparks and repair our world.
In the Talmud (Mishnah) it says that G-d found no vessel other than peace that was capable of containing blessing. Only by virtue of the peace and unity among them could people receive and be worthy of having the Divine Presence rest upon their handiwork. With striving for a continuous unfolding; a process of not only nurturing the spark within but also becoming the vessels of Light and vessels of Peace, we can effect a real tikkun olam, repair of this fractured world.
May the Divine Presence rest upon our handiwork.
May we be a blessing in the world, vessels of Light and vessels of Peace.
And may this Pesach and year bring you happiness, health and spiritual connection.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)