Bless the World With Your Eyes
This time of year is often referred to as the High Holy Days by my Jewish sisters and brothers. Though I am not Jewish, I love many of the traditions and rituals of this season, especially those dealing with atonement, reconciliation, and forgiveness. It reminds me of the Sacrament of Reconciliation which I grew up with in my own tradition.
Recently, I was reminded in a reading, that the Talmud calls for the expression and offering of no less than 100 blessings a day!
So many traditional Jewish prayers are in fact blessings of one sort or another.
To offer 100 prayers in a day may seem daunting. But if we considered blessing everything that we laid our eyes on during the course of our day, it might become easier than we thought possible...
Bless every person you come across in a day.
Take it one step further, and bless every sentient creature and being. Bless the bees for their function and how they contribute to the pollination of our food.
Bless all the material things you use during the course of your day.
Bless the instruments that allow you to make music if you are a musician.
Bless the books and the resources that enrich your knowledge and contribute to your wisdom.
If you are a doctor, bless the medications and care that you give and all the instruments that make it possible.
If you are someone in the healing arts, bless your ability to help others with your modality.
While you work, consider the things that make your work possible: The computers or tablets, the software, and copiers used if you are old school.
At home, bless the pots and pans and your kitchen, that enable you to prepare nourishing meals to feed yourself, and a family if you have one.
Bless your lawnmower or the person that takes care of your landscaping if you have one.
Bless the farmers that grow your food...
You can go on and on, you get the gist!
So today, see if you can offer 100 blessings, just by following your eyes.
And if you cannot see, then simply imagine what you can bless using your other senses.
I cannot see you, but I bless you!
Recently, I was reminded in a reading, that the Talmud calls for the expression and offering of no less than 100 blessings a day!
So many traditional Jewish prayers are in fact blessings of one sort or another.
To offer 100 prayers in a day may seem daunting. But if we considered blessing everything that we laid our eyes on during the course of our day, it might become easier than we thought possible...
Bless every person you come across in a day.
Take it one step further, and bless every sentient creature and being. Bless the bees for their function and how they contribute to the pollination of our food.
Bless all the material things you use during the course of your day.
Bless the instruments that allow you to make music if you are a musician.
Bless the books and the resources that enrich your knowledge and contribute to your wisdom.
If you are a doctor, bless the medications and care that you give and all the instruments that make it possible.
If you are someone in the healing arts, bless your ability to help others with your modality.
While you work, consider the things that make your work possible: The computers or tablets, the software, and copiers used if you are old school.
At home, bless the pots and pans and your kitchen, that enable you to prepare nourishing meals to feed yourself, and a family if you have one.
Bless your lawnmower or the person that takes care of your landscaping if you have one.
Bless the farmers that grow your food...
You can go on and on, you get the gist!
So today, see if you can offer 100 blessings, just by following your eyes.
And if you cannot see, then simply imagine what you can bless using your other senses.
I cannot see you, but I bless you!
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