Chesed
Have you ever been camping without a tent? Sleeping outside and then it begins to rain? I have. I was amongst the oldest and biggest trees of the world, traveling around the Pacific Northwest, studying the ancient forests with my school companions. It was a warm night; I pulled out my sleeping bag without my tent and slept under a friendly tree named Doug, Douglas Fir.
I awoke in the middle of the night. My companions were shreiking, running through pouring rain to our bus, pulling out tents and frantically trying to set them up. I was alarmed, concerned, I had no tent either,… but then I realized I was dry and the entire patch of land around me was dry. I was close enough to my Fir tree that I was spared the raindrops- they were received by the treetop and gently routed downward via branch and trunk. Rivers of awe and gratitude flowed through me as I realized that I was the beneficiary of such grace and protection. Chesed b’Malchut.
Reflection/Action: Take a moment and imagine a time when you felt buoyed by the world? have you ever picked fresh blueberries by the bearpaw full? Have you ever filtered water from a stream and drank it to quench your thirst? Have you ever had your cares lightened by a warm breeze? What’s your story of Chesed b’Malchut? Would you share here with all of us?
