Today is the Sabbath. From the Jews, we get this great gift of a day in seven to rest, and to focus on God and soul and the spiritual dimension of life. Sabbath time is what anchors us in Reality, so that we are not overcome and swept away by the "reality" of this world and its echoes in our thoughts which disturb and distress us. When we regularly choose to accept this gift of Sabbath, we are relieved from work and worry. We build a temple in time. We focus on all that is good and true and beautiful, and we find a peace that passes understanding.
Here are words to help us do this by Solomon Ibn Gabirol, a Jewish philosopher, poet, and mystic of the 11th century who lived in Spain. He wrote hundreds of poems in Biblical Hebrew, which have become an important part of the Jewish tradition.
(I have taken the liberty to make his language inclusive in English)
THE LIVING GOD
Bow down before God, my precious thinking soul,
and make haste to worship God with reverence.
Night and day think only of the everlasting world.
Why should you chase after vanity and emptiness?
As long as you live, you are akin to the living God, Who is invisible, just as you are.
Since your Creator is pure and flawless,
know that you too are pure and perfect.
The Mighty One upholds the heavens
as you uphold the mute body.
My soul, let your songs come before your Rock
who does not lay your form in the dust.
My innermost heart, bless your Rock always,
Whose Name is praised by everything that has breath.
No comments:
Post a Comment