Midweek Musings
There is an old Jewish tradition to say 100 blessings each day.¬
Especially in these weeks before Thanksgiving I think about giving thanks, and about blessings, and the connection between them.
Sometimes we think that a blessing for bread or wine or seeing a rainbow expects us to actually bless the wine or bread —or even the rainbow.¬ But blessing are directed to God, recognizing God as the Creator (or "Originator") of all things in the world.¬ So at the moment before we eat, or when we see a beautiful vista (the ocean or the mountains), or when we encounter a person of great wisdom, or when we pass a place of special memories, we say a blessing and recall the Holy One who Created the world and all in it.
Within the Jewish tradition we find blessings like these:
Blessed is God who brings bread forth from the ground (bread)
Blessed is God who creates the fruit of the vine (wine, grape juice)
Blessed is God who remembers the Covenant (rainbow)
Blessed is God who shared wisdom with human beings (scholar or teacher)
Blessed is God who created the world (ocean)
... and there are many more.¬
Our encounters each day, our food and drink, the beauties that surround us, invite us to see our world as part of something greater.¬ By reciting these blessings, we invite the divine into our own life.
Perhaps we are not sure what a blessing is, and what it really means (other than saying "bless you" when someone sneezes!).¬ In essence, the Hebrew word "Baurch" — which is usually translated as "bless" — also has the meaning of "giving thanks" or "acknowledgement.". So our tradition of 100 blessings really asks us to say "thank you" 100 times each day.
Let us think each day of the many blessings we receive from our parents and children, our husbands and wives, our teachers, our physicians, our leaders, those who defend our safety at home and abroad, and let us remember to say "Thank you."¬ Thank you to the individuals who serve us in this world, and also, perhaps, to the Holy One, who created them all, and who inspires us to do the good that we do in the world.
The Thanksgiving season inspires much of what is best in this country.¬ We travel great distances to be at home, we unite with our families and share the news, the celebrations and even the sorrows of our lives.¬ We remember those who might be less fortunate.¬ I hope that we think of neighbors and community members who might perhaps be alone and invite them to join our family circles.¬ We give, generously, of our time and money to ensure that meals and companionship can be provided for those in greatest need.
This year, I am happy that once again our congregations of all faiths will come together in an Interfaith Service to celebrate the many blessings that we share.¬
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m., the full Cape Ann community is invited to gather at Trinity Church on Middle Street that we might sing, bless and give thanks together.¬ Hearing the shared wisdom of our varied faith traditions is a source of inspiration for which we can truly "give thanks."¬ In different ways God is to be found at the center of our worlds, and the songs, prayers, readings and silence that we share affirms our common humanity — each of us created in God's image.
There are days when I am challenged in the morning to¬ imagine that there will be the chance to say 100 blessings.¬ But there are also days when there are so many more.¬ My blessing to us all is that when each of us "counts our blessings" 100 will be only the beginning.
The Rabbi Samuel Barth is the spiritual leader of Temple Ahavat Achim in Gloucester. www.taagloucester.org. Midweek Musings is a column rotated among Cape Ann clergy.
