For Our Tender Hearts

In this week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh,
we are commanded to make offerings each day
that will lift up light for the sake of all life
for generations to come.

How can we possibly make these offerings
when we are feeling weary, anxious, confused?
When our vision is clouded by
anger, sadness and fear?

The Torah teaches us to be in intentional
about what we place upon our hearts
and before our eyes.
This will help hold us steady
and remind us that we are not alone.
 
Following the call of the Torah,
let us place upon our hearts
         the names of those we love,
         and the names of those whose love has shaped us.

Let us place upon our hearts
         wisdom from the ancestors
         and prayers for the children.

Let us place upon our hearts
         qualities we yearn to live by,
         ideals we seek to uphold.

I place upon my heart
         love and kindness,
         faith and honesty,
         courage and determination,
         compassion and patient trust.

I place upon my heart
         the willingness to be present,
even in the face of turmoil and grief.
I place before my eyes
         gratitude and wonder,
         beauty and awe,
         the holiness of being,
         the goodness of so many.

And I place upon my heart and before my eyes
the command 
         to seek and reflect the ner tamid,
         the infinite light,
         that shines through brokenness,
         always.