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Where treasure is found

Do you know the story of Rabbi Eizik, son of Rabbi Yekel of Cracow?
After many years of hardship and poverty, he dreamed someone bade him look for a treasure in Prague, under the bridge that leads to the king’s palace. When the dream recurred a third time, Rabbi Eizik prepared for the journey and set out for Prague. But the bridge was guarded day and night and he did not dare to start digging. Nevertheless, he went to the bridge every morning and kept walking around it until evening. Finally, the captain of the guards, who had been watching him, asked in a kindly way whether he was looking for something or waiting for somebody. Rabbi Eizik told him of the dream that had brought him here from a faraway country.
The captain laughed: “And so to please the dream, you poor fellow wore out your shoes to come here. As for having faith in dreams, if I had, I should have set out when a dream once told me to go to Cracow and dig for treasure under the stove in the room of a Jew–Eizik, son of Yekel! I can just imagine what it would be like, how I should have to try every house over there, where one half of the Jews are named Eizik and the other Yekel!” And he laughed again.
Rabbi Eizik bowed, traveled home, dug up the treasure that awaited under the stove in his house, and built the House of Prayer, which is called “Reb Eizik Reb Yekel’s Shul.”
Martin Buber sums up the story this way, “There is something that can only be found in one place. It is a great treasure, which may be called the fulfillment of existence. The place where this treasure can be found is the place on which one stands.”

Yes. And especially in a world where the news cycle and its uncertainty, feels like it shakes the ground we stand on.
And we easily miss the great treasures…
The great treasure of being present.
The great treasure of being glad to be alive.
The great treasure of heartfelt joy. To be here. Now. This is good news.
And some stories should just be left alone. But, I am a preacher, and have a hard time knowing when to stop.
You see. I love this story. I concur 100%. And it does my heart good. And yet.
Why our inner unrest? Is it our preoccupation with distraction?
It is as if we believe that we live from some kind of deficiency. As if we’re not where we “should be”, or even wish to be.
And inside, (this is my confession), I rage against…
–my fragile (broken) nature and inelegant humanity,
–my inability to savor the very ordinary (and yes, messy) moments,
–my feeling “at the mercy of” circumstances,
–my not “achieving” wholeness (like it’s a game to win).

This isn’t new. Several hundred years ago Pascal wrote, “By means of a diversion we can avoid our own company 24 hours a day.”  But it’s not just diversion. It’s a kind of itch. A relentless hankering, and pursuit of something always elusive. As if life is always just beyond where we are Now. (Say, under a bridge in Prague. Or, when life gets back to “normal”.)
Alfred E Neuman nailed it when he said, “Most of us don’t know what we want in life, but we’re sure we haven’t got it.”
Jackson Browne talked about this “pursuit.” He wrote in an early song about “the first time I went on my own, when the roads were as many as the places I had dreamed of, and my friends and I were one.” Yet in a later song called “Running on Empty,” he concludes, “I look around for the friends that I used to turn to, to pull me through; looking into their eyes, I see them running, too.”
In other words, I’m all for living the present moment.  Just not this one. And yet, the great treasure of a fulfilled life, is in the ground where I stand (and walk, work, live and love).

I loved talking with the sheep about my garden. Telling them how the garden is my teacher. There I find treasures, moments of serenity (resting in gladness), when snapshots, vistas, colors, fragrance makes the world stand still. Where my urgency fades. A wonderful reminder about the sustaining value in making rituals (daily containers where we are available to grace).
I’m with May Sarton on this; I spend the first part of the morning wandering and looking for miracles.

Here’s our paradigm shift. With our cognitive or cerebral approach, we still see the treasure (of being present) as something to acquire. And, we miss that it is alive and well, inside us. We miss embracing that there is sufficiency, even when the well feels dry.
When we see only scarcity, we let anger or blame have its way. We feel raw and at the mercy of. “Fear narrows the little entrance of our heart,” wrote Thomas Merton. “It shrinks up our capacity to love. It freezes up our power to give ourselves.”
So. Today, let us dig for that treasure “at home”.
Let us pause, and in gratitude savor gladness.
Let us allow that treasure spill to those around us, in listening, standing with, empathy, kindness and inclusion.

This week I’ll be Orkney Springs, VA, with a group gathered at Shrine Mont. We’ll be talking about walking one another home, a reminder that no one of us is on this journey alone.

Quote for your week…
In the light of eternity, we’re here for a very short time, really. We’re here for one thing, ultimately: to learn how to love, because God is love. Love is our origin, love is our ground, and love is our destiny. James Finley

Today’s Photo Credit: “Hi Terry, It’s not often we get to witness such amazing Astro events let alone 2 in a week. Thursday we were visiting friends (Debbie and Rick) in Mammoth, CA. Hearing the strong forecast for the aurora, we headed to nearby Mono Lake for the show. We weren’t disappointed! Then a few nights later, we went to the Minarets Vista to observe the comet. Again we were wowed by the beauty of our world and the privilege to witness such amazing natural events! May we look at all of nature’s wonders with similar eyes!” Madeleine Gallagher… Thank you Madeleine… Thank you to all, I love your photos… please keep sending them… send to terryhershey.com 

I am so grateful you are a part of the Sabbath Moment Community. We do walk one another home. Thank you for being with me every Monday (and many for Daily Dose). You have kept me going. That’s the truth. Please pass the word about Monday Sabbath Moment. And, now join me for Daily Sabbath Moment (Tuesday – Friday). Your donations do indeed make a difference. Thank you.

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