Tag Archive for "sing G-d’s gifts"

Posts Tagged ‘sing G-d’s gifts’

Howling at the Moon

Posted on: November 5th, 2017 by Alden

This meditation was inspired by a writing workshop I conducted for teens. One youth asked if howling at the moon could be a prayer. We went outside and howled at the moon, but I told them to howl with kavanah, with an intention of prayer. They invented a word – ‘Wowl’ – combining ‘howl’ with ‘wow.’ It means: ‘howling with the intent of prayer.’ They wrote a prayer called “Wowl-ing to G-d,” which I’ve already posted.

Howling at the Moon
What freedom
To dance in the rain, cool and clean,
On a warm summer afternoon?

Let me honor Your works.
Let me celebrate Your splendor.
Let me rejoice in Your creation.

What joy
To sit on the beach, empty and quiet
As the sun rises to meet the morning tide?

Let me listen for Your voice.
Let me hear Your whisper.
Let me know Your word.

What glory
To howl at the moon, full and bright,
Hanging majestic in the eastern sky?

Let me sing Your praise.
Let me shout Your glory.
Let me exalt Your majesty.

Postscript: See also “Come Walk,” a prayer in the voice of the spiritual traveler that also uses moon imagery.

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: NASA

In Gratitude for Your Gifts

Posted on: January 10th, 2016 by Alden

This prayer of gratitude is one of my few attempts at an English alphabetic acrostic. Here, the acrostic is in second word of the first two sets of indented lines, and the first word of the third set. Many Psalms are Hebrew acrostics, such as Psalm 145, the core of the Ashrei. Many classic piyyutim also incorporate acrostics. A sample of the poetic structures of famous piyyutim can be found on Wikipedia.

In Gratitude for Your Gifts
Guardian of my life.
Guide of my spirit:

In Awe we seek You,
With Blessings we reach You,
In Communion we call to You,
With Devotion we come to You.
With Enthusiasm we turn to You,
In Faith we trust in You,
With Gratitude we look to You,
In Humility we yearn for You,
With Inspiration we return to You,
In Joy we praise You.

Source of all being,
Light of the earth:

In Kindness You heal us,
In Love You sustain us,
In Mercy You forgive us,
With Nobility you bless us,
With Openness You hear us,
With Peace you comfort us.
In Quiet we hear You,
With Radiance You bestow divine gifts,
With Splendor You renew the world,
In Trust You’ve given us free will.

Soul of the universe,
Grant us:

Understanding to follow Your word,
Vigor to live by Your law,
Wisdom to follow Your path,
Yearning to study Torah,
Zeal for justice and peace.

Postscript: The original version of my prayer “Elijah” is an acrostic, although when I revised and expanded the prayer, I chose to forgo the acrostic. I haven’t experimented with much with this form. Dealing with several letters – in particular, ‘x’ – is a challenge. In this prayer, I’ve chosen to avoid the issue by leaving it out.

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Photo Source: Judaism.com

One Gift

Posted on: September 19th, 2014 by Alden

Each moment brings a new gift, the gift of now. Now is the source of all gifts. G-d is the Source of now. Here are three related meditations: “Leaving,” “Arriving” and “Now.”

One Gift
There is but one gift
That is the source of all blessings:
The gift of now.
Now is the source
Of you, my friend,
Of us, my love,
Of sky and rain,
Of thunder and light,
Of season and harvest,
Of mystery and adventure,
Of awe and wonder.
Now is the source of blessings.

There is but one Source
For this well of blessings
This flow of now:
You, G-d of All Being.
You are the Source
Of friendship and love,
Of tide and bounty,
Of endings and beginnings,
Of Torah and wisdom,
Of radiance and splendor,
Of holiness and healing.
You, Holy One, are the
Source of all gifts, the
Source of all blessings, the
Source of now.

Postscript: Consider using this prayer on Thanksgiving. Please take a look at my book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

Photo Source: Alden Solovy

Praise the New Day

Posted on: August 5th, 2013 by tobendlight

Here’s another prayer of praise for G-d, with the added hope and desire to be of service to G-d’s world. My other prayers of praise include “Dance Hallelujah,” “Sing Hallelujah” and “Sing Out.” This prayer will appear in my forthcoming book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing.

Praise the New Day
Praise the new day,
A gift of the Source of All Being,
The Breath of Life,
The Soul of the Universe.
Cherish the moments
And sanctify the hours.
Bless the joys
And honor the tears.
Lift your heart in song.
Raise your voice in thanksgiving.
Magnify your faith.
Practice acceptance.
Offer consolation.
Seek wisdom.
Become a well of healing,
A beacon of kindness,
A source of forgiveness,
A light of wonder and wisdom.

Soul of the Universe,
Breath of Life,
Source of All Being,
We praise the new day.
A gift of holiness and love.

Postscript: Here’s a link to prayers of Thanksgiving.

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Photo Source: My Glimpses of Glory

Sing Out

Posted on: April 10th, 2012 by tobendlight

Singing is a powerful expression of prayer. It can bring awe, mystery and holiness. No wonder that whenever I feel the light of G-d’s gifts enter my life, I want to sing out. Here’s a prayer that calls on us to celebrate Divine gifts with song. To listen along, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.

Sing Out
When you feel the light of holiness,
The radiance of love,
The shimmering of glory,
The luminous glow of spirit…

When you inhale wonder
And exhale awe…

When mystery and majesty flow
Through your pulsing veins…

When G-d’s whisper becomes a thundering
Blast of the Shofar…

When your soul remembers its
Place in the heavens…

Sing out!
Sing out your joy.
Sing out your praise.

When you feel the light of Torah,
The radiance of Mitzvot,
The shimmering of prayer,
The luminous glow of loving-kindness…

Sing out!
Sing out to G-d.
Your voice will join the chorus of angels
And your heart will know
The secret of eternity.

Postscript: Here are three related prayers: “For the Gift of Song,” “Sing Hallelujah” and “A Song that Holds My Heart.”

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Photo Source: Yoga Sanctuary

Posts Tagged ‘sing G-d’s gifts’

Howling at the Moon

In Gratitude for Your Gifts

One Gift

Praise the New Day

Sing Out

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