The opening text will come from a book by Abraham Joshua Heschel (God in Search of Man - A Philosophy of Judaism). As you are able to see by the title, the language may be a bit dated and therefore, I will, when able, make the language inclusive.
The perception of the glory is a rare occurrence in our lives. We fail to wonder, we fail to respond to the presence. This is the tragedy of every (person): “to dim all wonder by indifference.” Life is routine, and routine is resistance to the wonder. “Replete is the world with a spiritual radiance, replete with sublime and marvelous secrets. But a small hand held against the eye hides all,” said the Baal Shem. “Just as a small coin held over the face can block out the sight of a mountain, so can the vanities of living block out the sight of the infinite light.”
This has the sound of a warning…a flashing light attempting to draw our attention to a message…a siren trying to awaken us as a fierce storm approaches. Beware of how the routines of our lives can push out our willingness and our ability to the wonder of life that is all around us. I don’t think this is some “heady” issue that has no impact on our day. Rather, to walk through the day indifferent to the glory of God’s creation does great damage to the very core of our lives. We are not to be mechanized beings who simply move through the events of the day. For within the events of the day we are exposed to the beauty of phrases that are turned and sentences that run along poetically…we are handed the marvelous and wondrous view of flowers blossoming and the yard gaining color from day to day…we are shown how vast and never ending is our imagination when we are free to let it wander.
Connection: Yes, today will be filled with routine things…but how can we begin to experience and notice more than the routine...how can we expect to be witnesses to the glory of God….here….now?
Beyond all things you wait for us. Within all things you call for us. Alongside all things you never fail to be with us. Grant us the vision to observe the movements and the journey of this day with new eyes and hearts that yearn for your precious Reign to be revealed again and again. Praise to you O Creator of the deep beauty of Creation. Amen.
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