“Seeds – Sacrifice – Blessing – Thanks” [Reflections on Mishna Translation - Darby – Berakoth 1:1 (series) ]
Three seeds, they spoke of long ago,
Tapped into now, as on I go
Into the Mishna’s guiding page,
Assembled each from passing Sage.The first is sacrifice which takes
A multitude of forms, and breaks
The bondage holding us in chains,
With limits to our living range.The second seed is blessing – said
Each Sabbath eve as we’ve been led
To bless our children – “Prosper – go
And enter life, engage, be bold!”The third is thanks, viewed as a seed –
Relax, step back, ease off on need;
Contented be, quit taking in –
Let life of gratitude begin.Strange seeds, and yet the elders know
Up here in frozen lakes and snow,
Spring comes, like now, in planting-week;
Fresh food comes soon – first shoots must peak –Their tiny heads above the dirt;
Roots down to water, resource – thirst
Assuaged by resource, God built in;
As ground up mountain rocks begin –To flow through carrots, beets, and thyme,
Into the cells of human-kind;
We’re made from clay and humus rich,
But seeds bridge flows from field and ditch.Three seeds are also bridging life
To inner core, midst joy, and strife –
First sacrifice – skin in the game
Releasing life; transcending pain.Then blessing – seeds of hope, unseen –
Transcending struggle, mean and mean;
Then thanks to God for life, enriched
Expressed midst chaos – heaven’s kiss.A harvest comes from sacrifice;
Our blessings flow enriching life;
Our thanks flow out responsibly.
Lord, thanks for bridging life with seed.Thanks Holy Spirit for this.
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