I want to want repentance I want to want God I want to want to pray at all But that is all I've got A Jew can just excuse himself A Jew can disbelieve A Jew can just participate To find some small relief Ours is not a religion Ours is not merely faith Ours is not in our hearts or minds It's in our DNA I'm there because they draw me there I'm there because of them I'm there because of smiles and hugs Where I don't feel condemned Sometimes I recite all the words Sometimes I do as they Sometimes I feel that God has heard For that is what they say Community grants me peoplehood Community grants excuse Community grants permission To pray to "You Know Who" Believe I not in Yom Kippur Believe not in the least Believe absent community - - I'm barely sorry beast
ההרים
הנפש
רחוק ורחב
זה קשה
בנהר
במראה
של הגלים
פניו שלו
כדי למצוא
להכיר
לראות
מתחת לגג
הכתובים
והמילים
האם זה קל
בקהילה
לא את חמתו של אלוהים
כאדם חלש
עם עירום
עור
אלוהים עצמו
אפילו בבושת פנים שלו
להיות
מאוד יפה.
I like the way this poem flows. ☺
thanks❗
Hi Ben! I really liked it. I had to read it a few times and have to admit the feeling I get is a feeling of sadness. Is it about a superficial relationship but you wanting more?
Yes and no, Shannie.
I envy people who feel that they have a relationship with God (whatever that may mean to them) because that would be very comforting – I think it’s a human condition to desire a sense of logic and stability and purpose in this crazy world, and believing in God gives some people that sense of reality.
However, I don’t actually believe that any existing supernatural force cares about us in the slightest bit – so I don’t aspire to a relationship with a Being who is unrelatable.
That said, I very much love my people – the Jews – and I believe that our traditions hold us together and have preserved us as a people for many centuries… so I do follow a lot of traditions that others believe were commanded to us by God (regardless of whether I think that’s true, which I don’t).
BUT – I don’t follow all of the traditions because there are many that I don’t get anything out of – and some that irritate me greatly. If I believed in a God who commanded these things for a sensible reason, it would be easier for me follow these traditions, which would be nice… but -again- I don’t aspire to that because I don’t think that there is any truth in it.
Oh, that does sound a bit sad and lonely. Is our purpose to just keep.traditon?
Well, first of all, I don’t believe that any human being can know what the purposes of Creation is. So – no – I would not say that keeping tradition is our purpose. I would say that it is on each of us to make his/her own purpose in this world.
Also, regarding tradition in particular, I find it very meaningful in the grand scheme of things. For me personally, it does feel like part of my personal purpose because I perceive the Jewish people to be my extended family, and family lends tremendous purpose to my life – so I am invested in preserving mine.
Not to mention that most of the traditions that I consistently observe are enjoyable and/or meaningful to me on a tradition-to-tradition basis, regardless of whether God has anything to do with them.
Interesting. To understand what you are saying better though, it is your family whom you love and express love through the traditions you share. Is this love not a spiritual experience?
Sure, it very well may be.
I didn’t say that I don’t believe in spiritual experiences!
From my perspective, I understand love to be God and when we love we experience love, which is our human experience with one another. When we love God as we learn and know who He is, we start to experience His love too. He is so very gentle that He is just waiting for us to recognize Him.
That’s a nice way to look at it. Personally, I don’t find any reason for myself to use the word “God” to describe love, but I would agree with you that love is something that generally falls under the category of “spiritual”, as you put it in your previous comment.
[…] ben Alexander […]
Thanks; that’s very sweet of you. I have not yet decided whether or not I want to participate in the WP “award culture”, but if do – I’ll let you know! Regardless, I very much appreciate your support!
I love this… thanks for liking my comment on Yassy’s last post, which helped me find your blog… lovely. :)) 💛🙏
Thanks! I consider Yassy a much more serious poet than I am. Until several months ago, when I created this blog, I hadn’t written poetry in nearly 2 decades 🙂
Poetry lives eternally in the soul. It only requires renewed inspiration to unfold. :))
I like that. Thank you.
😊🙏🎶
Happy new year…
You too!
Sounds therapeutic.. I like how you unburden. Can’t agree more. Way to go , Ben. Way to go 👍
Thanks – unburdening is actually a perfect description! I was trying to explain it to myself, and that fits perfectly.
You are welcome, Ben. I think all of us feel that way and you explored and explained perfectly ..
👐
Your first stanza really resonates with me. The want to want repentance, the want to want a meaningful prayer experience, the want to want a closer connection with G-d…I want to say that I want this, but if I am honest with myself, it is more of a want to want.
Yeah, I’ve had this particular thought for a very, very long time. It’s the best way I know how to express it.
It’s packed with meaning.
It feels meaningful, at least 😇😈
Exactly!
🙂
This is one is so beautiful…!
The last lines💜💜
Thank you 🙏