Words Upon Our Hearts

In this week’s Torah portion we witness our ancestors departure from Mitzrayim. They had been enslaved for hundreds of years and finally now they are beginning a path toward freedom.

This freedom came at great cost—at a great cost to them and at a great cost to the land, animals and people of Egypt.

I pray that as human beings we can learn how to transform and change,

We can discover how to liberate and become

Without leaving in our wake destruction, hardship and pain.

May our paths toward freedom and liberation be guided,

Not by blood on our doorposts,

But by these words we place there to direct and protect us:

In the mezuzah it says:

Shema Veahafta-- Listen and Love

Listen as you wrestle with life.

         Listen as you feel into your relationship with all being.

         Listen into the oneness of all that is.

And love.

Love with all you heart, all your soul and all your strength.

Place love upon your heart.

Teach love to your children.

Speak from love in your home and as you walk on your way.

Take love with you as you lie down and as you rise up.

Carry love in your hand,

Place love before your eyes,

Inscribe love upon your gates.

Listen deeply into the calls for connection.

Love and serve the Unfolding of All Life with all your heart and soul.

Be aware of your relationship with earth and all beings.

Serve what is true.

Place words upon your heart,

Upon your soul, in your hands and before your eyes

That will help you remember

You are here in relationship with all life

And what you do affects the world for generations to come.

Act for the well-being of earth,

Act for the benefit of all life,

Act so as to leave a bountiful and gracious land

For those who will call you ancestor.

                                                                        Deut 6:4-9, 11:13-21