The Gift

By Rachel Kann

Don't I know this

Feeling of homelessness.

And don't I know

How real the loneliness

In your bones is.

Slow down and notice 

The gloriousness afforded;

The view through the newly-opened window 

Of your broken heart.

This gift of clear vision.

Think on

The sacred company 

You're in:

Has there been one instance

Of wisdom 

In the history

Of this misbegotten existence

Elicited from anything but heart-brokenness?

It is an act of grace

To shatter the packaging,

To peel the encasement,

To reveal your true soul’s face and,

Say, with outstretched arms,

Here, here is the shape of my heart.

There is nothing left 

but to be swept 

away by love.

For the Gift of Song by Alden Solovy

G-d, we give thanks for the gift of song,

For the gift of melody and harmony,

For the gift of voices quilted together in chorus,

Lifting praises toward the holy realms.

Hear this prayer for those who chant in Your Name,

Who chant for healing,

Who chant to witness Your love,

Your power,

Your grace.

Make their voices Your vessel.

Let heaven pour joy through them

So that they overflow with Your light,

Drawing others to Your glory.

So that when we hear their song

Our hearts turn back to You in peace.

Together, we offer our prayer back to heaven

And rejoice.

© 2010 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Nature has the power to inspire awe in us. After winter’s long frost, we feel a real sense of hope as the first flowers emerge from the earth. Or, we may feel a sense of our small but mighty place in the universe when we look out at the ocean. These Jewish blessings help us express our sense of wonder, and you may wish to write your own blessings for the natural world.

Recite when seeing large-scale wonders of nature such as high mountains, vast deserts, seas, major rivers, shooting stars and the sunrise: 

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, oseh maasei v'reishit.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, who makes the works of creation.

On seeing the small-scale wonders of nature, such as beautiful trees and flowers, animals, and people:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, shekacha lo beolamo.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, that such as these are in Your world.

On seeing a rainbow:

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, zocher hab'rit v'neeman biv'rito v'kayam ma-amaro.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, who remembers, is faithful to, and fulfills Your covenant with and promise to creation.