Tuesday, August 30, 2022

How To Sing Avinu Malkeinu

 



Blessed Holy Wholeness, 

How can I sing Avinu Malkeinu?

How can I use this limited name for God?


I don’t do kings

Or queens,

No vertical hierarchies. 

Verticality creates the problems, it doesn’t fix them. 


I don’t do fathers

Or mothers,

No parental substitutes.

Parents love you but they really do mess you up. 


I don’t do tribal gods

Or protective angels

I like my myths to stay fictional. 

Supernatural intervention fantasies lead to passive magical thinking. 


I don’t do male eternal mysteries 

Or female avatars.

A gendered God is illogical. 

Besides, ineffable spirits may feel good but can they save the planet??


I respect random chance 

And don’t want to indulge in wishful thinking

But, rationality just isn’t much fun.  

(Nevertheless, I hold atheism in reserve so I don’t look stupid.)


It does feel good to consider God’s surrounding presence 

And everyone’s shared divinity. 

I pray to holy wholeness

With a knowingness that I cannot explain away. 


Hmmmm. 


HaShleimut,

When I sing with the congregation 

On the Holy Days

For redemption and second chances 

For me and the world,

I think I will sing,

Avinu Malkeinu,

Our Father Our King,

The way it’s written.

It’s a lovely tune and I’m used to it.  

Sue me. 


But,

Since every metaphor leads to One-ness

I think I will then pray 

To 

All Of The Above.  


Amen


                   








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