All bushes burn

A Desert Encounter

וְהִנֵּה הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ, וְהַסְּנֶה, אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל

 And behold!
The bush burned in fire 
And the bush was not consumed!

Exodus/Sh’mot 3:3

In a far off desert
In a moment in time
There was a meeting
Of two men

One listened
The other spoke 

The one who spoke
Told his tale 

Generations back 
You and I
Came from the same father
Generations back
You and I
Came from different mothers 

My ancestors remained in the wilderness
A wilderness that speaks of mystery and wonder
A wilderness that speaks of solitude and connection

Your ancestors journeyed to the West
To live in the land by the Great River 
A land of farmers and shepherds
A land of bricks and buildings
A land of servants and rulers 

We remained in the wilderness 
Always remembering
The words and ways of the ancients
The words and ways of our ancestors
Hearing of gardens and floods
Hearing of journeys and battles
Hearing of letters and words 

We moved 
Across the wilderness
With the seasons 

With the clouds  
With the stars
With the sun 
With the moon

With the wind
With the waters

We have seen
We have known
That all is flowing 

We have seen
We have know
That all is One

And yet

We also know
There are two ways

Of being in the world 

A way of separateness 
A way of connection 
Two ways

All rivers and stones
All birds and bushes
Can be seen
Separate from one another 

All rivers and stones
All birds and bushes
Can be seen
Connected to one another 

We all can know
That all things
Are part of the One
That all things 
Are always changing
That all things and all bushes too
Are always burning 

Sit with me
Dwell with me 

I will show you
I will teach you
The forgotten way of our ancestors
The forgotten way of the wilderness

You will learn to listen with your eyes
You will learn to see with your ears 

You will learn of the ancient forgotten ways
You will learn of letters and words
You will learn of boundaries and portals

You will learn
To see and know
That all bushes burn

I will teach you
So one day

You can teach the others
The ones who once knew 

The ones who have forgotten

 I will teach you 
So you and they 
Can once again
Walk together
In the middle way
In the ancient way
In the way of wisdom

 I will teach you 
So you and your children 
And the children of your children
Can learn to walk 
In harmony and balance
In the two ways of the world 

 So you and they
Can create families and communities
Can sow seeds and reap harvests 
Can build houses and bridges
Can make music and tell stories 

 Can laugh and cry
Can love and connect 
Can know joy and wonder

 While
Always
Listening

 While 
Always
Seeing 

 While always
Remembering 
And knowing  

That all bushes burn
That all is One