Written after the 10/7/23 Hamas attack on Israel, and before Israel's response in Gaza.
I Am Here
I am here.
In Hebrew, "Hineni."
This is what Moses said, when God called to him from a burning bush.
I am here. Hineni.
My heart, my body, my soul
are here, present, focusing attention
on the sacredness of this present moment.
I. Am. Here. Grounded in the center of my being.
And yet, I am not here.
I am 6,000 miles away.
I am in Israel, I am in Gaza.
I am in the hearts of those who have lost loved ones in heinous ways.
I am in the hearts of those who fear they will soon lose loved ones.
I wish.
I wish I could enter the hearts
of those who hate and kill.
I wish I could open their hearts
to my Presence.
To the Presence of All Life.
Hineni.
I am there, joining hearts with those who continue to reach for Peace in the midst of so much anger and righteousness, generations of anger and righteousness.
Hearts hardened in a history of wronging and being wronged. Hearts hardened as they perpetuate more wrong-doing.
Hineni. I am there.
The world teeters, unsure of finding balance in the madness of religion and the might of power.
Hineni. I am Here.
I am here
with Mahatma Ghandi
whose plea to embrace religious tolerance even India has forgotten.
I am there
6,000 miles away
where families pray and so-called leaders and zealots prey upon each other.
Hineni.
I am here.
My heart beats with yours,
whether you feel it or not.
Even if yours has been hardened.
I wish
I could wave a heart flag
and end all war.
Hineni.
I am here, with my own, still living breath.
I am here. I grieve with you as the breath of your loved ones expire.
Hineni. I surrender to inner peace even as horror surrounds me.
Even as helplessness threatens to suffocate me.
