Meditation on the Burning Bush
“An angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire out of a bush. He gazed, and there was a bush all aflame, yet the bush was not consumed.”
Eyes closed
My hands on my lap
I focus on my breath
Going in and out
My feet on the ground
Sitting on this chair
My body standing still
I am breathing
In
And
Out
I am standing
In front of the bush
Which keeps on burning
Burning but not being consumed
Eyes closed
I can see its fire
I can feel its fever
I can hear its symphony
And I tell myself
This fire without
Is the fire within
That keeps on singing
That keeps on shining
Please God
Help me be like the bush
Humble, simple,
And overflowing with meaning
A soul of fire
Facing Eternity
Listening to the silence
And…
And…
Dear God…
My kavannah is troubled
I would like to complete this meditation,
but it feels like I should stop
My kavannah is broken
I heard the news today
It is tearing me down
How can I let myself be guided by the poetry of fire, when so many humans and animals are suffering, perishing, losing their lives?
How can I let myself be uplifted by the poetry of fire, while behind this problem, there is an even bigger problem that is global warming?
Oh God what can I do?
Besides pray for the rain?
Oh God what can we do?
As we know we are all part of the problem.
Please God
In this time of distress
Help me remember
Help me remember
I am not just part of the problem
But I am also
Part of the solution
Please God
Help me find the spark
Help me find the strength
And let me be in touch
With what it took Moses
To not stay in exile
Please God
Help me not to be a slave
Help me be like the bush
May my fears
May my rage
May my darkest feelings
Never consume me
You have given me
eyes to see
a mind to understand
hands to act
And legs to move forward
Beyond the fire
Please God
Let me see
Beyond the fire
Where hope
Where light
Where might
Are awaiting
Beyond the fire
Please God
Take me away
And let me see what I can do
For there must be something
Something that can be done
Hineni oh God
Hineni
Show me what I can do
For I know deep inside
That I am not a slave
No, I am strong like the bush
Hineni oh God
Show me what I can do
And take me on Your wings
Beyond the fire, where I am free
Beyond the fire, right through the sea
Beyond the fire, to the Promised Land
Take me anywhere, anywhere
Anywhere, Beyond the fire
Eyes closed
My hands on my lap
I focus on my breath
Going in and out
My feet on the ground
Sitting on this chair
My body standing still
I am breathing
In And Out
In And Out
In And Out
Etienne Kerber LBC rabbinical student
The views expressed in this D’var Torah do not necessarily reflect the position of Leo Baeck College.