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Find the hidden light

In the beginning there was only the holy darkness.
In Jewish Kabbalah teaching it is called the Ein Sof, or the source of life. And then, at a moment in time, this world, the world of a thousand, thousand things, emerged from the heart of the holy darkness as a great ray of light.
And then, perhaps because this is a Jewish story, there was an accident.
And the vessels containing the light of the world, the wholeness of the world, broke. And the wholeness of the world, the light of the world, was scattered into a thousand, thousand fragments of light, and they fell into all events, and all people, where they remain deeply hidden until this very day.
Rachel Naomi Remen tells the story, “According to my grandfather, the whole human race is a response to this accident. We are here because we are born with the capacity to find the hidden light in all events and all people, to lift it up and make it visible once again and thereby to restore the innate wholeness of the world.”

I am a storyteller. And we need stories more than ever, because they are the indispensable fuel for our sanity. We begin here: we have been empowered with the capacity to find the hidden light (in Hebrew called tikkun olam) to repair the world.
And the good news is that this is, and can only be, a collective task. Because it involves all people who have ever been born, all people presently alive, all people yet to be born.
So, here’s the deal: We are all—every one of us—repairers and healers of the world.
Well. That’s a bit overwhelming, don’t you think? The whole world? As if our days don’t feel heavy enough.
Okay; let me rephrase, tikkun olam is not about healing the world by grand splash or spectacle (say, parting the Red Sea). It is about repairing and healing the world that touches you, the small world—the people and encounters—close by, the daily, those ordinary resting places for our heart.
As John Lewis asked, “What if the beloved community is already a reality, the true reality, and we simply have to embody it until others can see?”

This week I reread Krista Tippet’s Becoming Wise. And the story above is from her conversation with Rachel Naomi Remen. Krista told her 7-year-old son the tikkun story, about “sparks and the holy flying out.” He listened raptly, and said, “I like that.”
Yes. So do I.
Stories touch and connect with our humanity in a profound way. Speaking of stories and “sparks and the holy flying out,” I was lucky; I grew up in a home surrounded by books and a love of stories, including fantastical ones. As a young boy, Sunday afternoons entranced by The Count of Monte Cristo and Three Musketeers, the latest exploit of Frank and Joe Hardy, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

But let’s face it; there is a gap between who we are and who we want to be.
I will admit that because of anger, disquiet and anxiety, there are times I do not see light. And I don’t share light.
So yes, the accident part of the story resonates. I give way to those events in life that that turn things upside down. It is no surprise that life often feels heavy, alarming and nerve-wracking.
But here’s my question: How do we choose for that not to be our narrative? In other words, how do we embrace the truth that we get to say how the story ends.
Plain and simple, the story about sparks and holy flying out, is about what we can do. Not what we can’t do.
John Katz would agree. “I am very much drawn to this idea of the good deeds of the righteous. I am seeking to live this kind of life in a time of conflict and dehumanizing technology and great greed and callousness to the poor and the needy, who are given no hope and even turned away from our doors. I am not a particularly religious man but somehow, I have great faith born of despair, and when I am discouraged or feeling weary, I close my eyes and think of the light pouring forth from this idea of God, this energy and light coming from the good deeds of the righteous.”

We are born with the capacity to find the hidden light. So, what does it mean to live as if we are repairers and healers of the world? (Maybe we get to ride around in a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance limo—Ghost Buster like? That would be cool.)
Or maybe, this is about the script we buy. Not believe. Buy. Okay, let’s use Plato’s verb instead. He said, “Whatever is honored will be cultivated.” Choose to honor.
As in, what do we pay attention to?
Speaking personally, I too easily allow the news cycle to easily hijack and derail my best intent. Although, it’s not easy, is it? Because of a cacophony, we can live defensive and reactive, as if we are victims. (Okay, I can tell you that I do.) No wonder we feel stuck. We feel at the mercy of fate. And when we take this to heart, we live as if we are not empowered. As if we are not sparks of light.
As a gardener this makes perfect sense. It’s all about the dirt. Nutritious or nutritive soil creates and generates life. Toxic soil does not. Fertility is stifled, because the nutrients have been leached.
So. Tikkun, to repair the soil of the world with nutrients: a balm of generosity, creating places for sanctuary, inclusion and compassion, protecting people who are most vulnerable, and a capacity to accommodate fragility with a softness of spirit. What Eve Ensler called, “The daily subtle simple gathering of kindness.”

February is Black History Month, a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. And below, a life-giving poem from Maya Angelou.

My health is better, thank you for your well wishes. So, on to Tucson, AZ for a few days to visit friends and let the sun work its healing magic.

Quote for your week…
One of the realities we’re all called to go through is to move from repulsion to compassion and from compassion to wonderment. Mother Teresa

Notes: thank you Krista Tippett, Becoming Wise

BULLETIN BOARD

Today’s Photo Credit: “Dear Terry, I chose Willow, Alaska to experience a dog sledding ride. What a grand adventure! This was the road into the adventure. Anticipation is just as amazing as the destination! Just like life should be. Today in the Cathedral in Anchorage the Priest referred to Life with a capital L; it’s my new philosophy. Thank you for shepherding us through Life with a capital ‘L’. God is good”, Marguerite Gertontis… Thank you Marguerite… And thank you to all, I love your photos… please, keep sending them… send to terryhershey.com 

Yes, your gift makes a difference… Donation = Love…
Help make Sabbath Moment possible. I write SM because I want to live with a soft heart; to create a place for sanctuary, empathy, inclusion, compassion and kindness… a space where we are refueled to make a difference. SM remains free.
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Audio, oldie but goodie– Grace in receiving self-care
Join us every Wednesday… Audio Sabbath Moment
Letters that do my heart good…
–Dear Terry, Words are insufficient to express how important your daily messages are to me and I dare say to those in my life. Thank you! May every cell in your body be healed and may you be ensconced firmly in God’s love! Gratefully, Rose
–Dear Terry, As I followed you on your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella I relived my experience and pilgrimage in 2019! It was truly a glorious sight to see the beautiful old cathedral and square and to realize what I had achieved by the grace of God and the encouragement of of many. God bless you and thank you for your years of Sabbath Moment. Shareen
–Oh, Terry… this is beautifully written, especially “I miss seeing that heroism is the light inside each and every one of us, visible and life-giving in the small steps along the way”. You have encouraged me to remember that it’s difficult to love others if I don’t love and care for myself. Thank you. Deb
–Dear, (Truly a dear), Terry, I am sorry you are still feeling under the weather. In September I had COVID and it lasted. Three. Weeks. I was really getting aggravated and then it went on away. I only say this to let you know, if you have had this there are better days ahead. Hang in there! Now, you have expressed your unease with what all is going on in the world and I am thankful you have expressed this because I have been having such a forlorn feeling. Sometimes it’s nice to know I am not the only one. Like you always say, we are all just walking each other home. Blessings to you, Lisa
–Dear Terry, Happy New Year!  Hope you are feeling better. I look forward every Monday to your lovely words, quotes, poems, songs etc. They really help to get my day off to a good start. I’m going to forward today’s message to my ministerial staff. I was so struck by the kindnesses shown, and how meaningful every little or big act of kindness; every simple or complex act of kindness; is so meaningful each day. We may never know what a glance, a word, a touch, a question of concern a note, a call, a visit means, but we might be pleasantly surprised how meaningful each and every gesture of kindness means to someone else. Thank You! Have a great day! peace, Ellen and Sir Corky (my cat; Meow Meow)
–Dear Terry, As I reread yesterday’s Sabbath Moment, I realized how weary I’ve been feeling lately; physically, emotionally and spiritually. I’d been toying with signing up for a retreat and after reading your blog, I applied for a 4 night silent retreat in mid-February. It’s hard for me to acknowledge when I need to rest and step away from my obligations for a while to recharge. Thanks for giving me the encouragement that I needed to take care of myself. I hope that you are feeling better soon. Thank you for your daily reminders to pause and to take care of ourselves. You are a blessing to so many people. With gratitude, Paulette



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