You are standing on the edge: the sea of reeds before you the army of Pharaoh behind. You do not know how to swim. All you have in the world is upon your back, a meager supply of unrisen bread made in haste, a jug of water, perhaps enough to last a day. You do not know what is on the other side. You have never been beyond your encampment or the city until this moment. Your extended family and neighbors are breathing heavily all around you. You can still hear the haunting wails of terrified mourners, mothers, beseeching Ra to wake up dead sons. They are cursing your people, your God, the One you don’t remember. The sound of foot-falls, frightened and hurried keep time with your pounding heart, but you stand still; waiting, mud seeping up between your calloused toes, on the soft edge of that uncertain shore. The soldiers thunder closer. Desperate humanity surrounds you pushing onward, miles deep; so many bodies, young and old, strong and weak. The cacophonous noise fills your ears. Your eyes had nearly been blinded by the commonness of suffering until now; you had been surviving in numb denial. Even your nostrils cannot escape the stench of fear; it is unbearable. But there is something else, something truly unfamiliar. Hope? Maybe. Faith? What are these words that are entering your mind? You have never dared think them before. As you stand there gazing out toward the unknown, you feel it in the pit of your belly; someone must be brave. There is nowhere else to go. You close your eyes and step into the sea…one, two, three, four…ten, twelve, fourteen. Now the water reaches the vertical indentation between your upper lip and your nose. The exact place your mother told you about when you were a small child. What was the story?
Oh yes, this is where an angel had touched you the instant before you were born, to make you forget.
But now you remember.
You remember God.
God remembers you.
The waters part
and the people are free to cross,
because you
took
the
first
step.
took
the
first
step.
One of the responsibilities at a Seder is to tell the story of the Exodus as if each of our souls were truly present. And we did that at ours last night as we sat together, family and friends. We will do so again this evening. Here I've chosen to share the moment just before crossing the sea of reeds. This is based on a midrash, an expansion of the biblical story about a man remembered as Nachshon ben Aminadav, who took the first to step into the water. I also incorporated the angel midrash, because it blended well for me, as I imagined myself in Nachshon's place. (Consider it a midrash mash-up!)
The thing is, this ancient story from the Torah could just as easily apply to refugees fleeing from modern day nations. It is not hard to visualize someone from Darfur or North Korea, Ivory Coast or Libya standing at the edge of a border, terrified and longing for a life free from violence, poverty, and hunger. Just like Nachshon took that first step into the water in the story, we must take action in our time. It is incumbent upon us to take the steps to support freedom, to supply those in greatest need with food, shelter and medicine. In Hebrew we call this Tikun Olam, Repairing the World. Nachshon was not the de facto leader, (Moses was) but his courageous initiative and faith made a difference. You and I can too.
Here are a few organizations that assist refugees around the world. Please consider a generous donation today, so tomorrow will be a little brighter for a friend far away, or perhaps closer than you think:
One of the reasons those Biblical stories continue to resonate across millennia is that they speak to universal themes in human experience. Thank you for sharing this one.
ReplyDeleteJudy
nice...has been a while since i went to seder service but love the story and you tell it well...hope you are good today
ReplyDeletewonderful post.
ReplyDeleteVery, very evocative!
ReplyDeleteYou have made it possible to feel the moments of decision ... the entering into the unknown.
ReplyDeleteLaura, thank you for your evocative description of our ancients at the lip of the Red Sea. I find it difficult to breathe life into the Haggadah--sometimes it can seem programmatic--but you've offered me another viewing and an understanding of its relevance in such a visceral way. Chag sameach!
ReplyDeleteso many layers, levels of "life" and fear of change in this story passage. Great link to Now, too.
ReplyDeleteI have been liiking at old coins, old relics from 100 A.D. and Plus, some of the coins have the same look of our penny, and I think of Christ's words about everything mighty falling... America, our time now, will also slip into time; ipods; our first blogs, all of this THUSNESS< a part of history too. A link.
blessings on you and yours.
It's amazing and heartbreaking how such history keeps repeating itself...
ReplyDeleteYesterday, today... and tomorrow... so many are forced to flee the different forms of tyranny of man... or just move to find a better life. Thank you for caring, Laura.
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian, I've always wanted to attend a seder. I want to more than ever now! Thanks for letting me have a window into your celebration.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for another wonderful post Laura :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching practice! You told the story beautifully :o)
ReplyDeletewe should all be in that healing and spiritual world so as to heal it and have sweeter lives...
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Laura, and everything else...
:-)
Refugees...exactly what I thought after reading only the first couple of lines.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the list of charitable organizations. We've been donating to Haiti through our church's Haitian pastor there...not through the doors of their government who will misuse the funds.
Beautiful photo!
ReplyDeleteSky and water in one - life - great photo!
ReplyDeleteYour picture is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI got caught up in the story, and forgot the picture! Both are excellent.
ReplyDeleteThe Red Sea crossing is a theme throughout the Bible which shows God's provision for and protection of His people. They crossed from death to life because He made a way. But each of them had to decide to obey.
Special One
ReplyDeleteThank you
The story
over and over
year after year
still makes my
heart beat so fast
and my eyes fill with tears...
Beautiful photo, love the reflection of the sky. Thanks for sharing the meaning of the seder.
ReplyDeleteyou have a remarkable gift for story-telling... i felt like i was right there. thank you for sharing your seder with us. and the message is clear. we step forward into the unknown, by faith. and He won't fail us...
ReplyDeletethanks also for the links...
Laura...
ReplyDeleteYou sent shivers up and down my spine.
Shalom!
In the home I made with my Jewish husband we honored both traditions and I tried to make a seder each year for my sons.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot to be learned from the story of Exodus as you point out, compassion for those wandering homeless in the wilderness is one thing we can all take from the story.
This post spoke so much to my heart and soul..All of me and my being needs so much healing not just my body but the heart and soul that is .
ReplyDeletePeace to you my friend..
Katelen
Lovely.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
Beautiful shot! Hope you can also check out my entry . Thank you!
ReplyDeleteExcellent midrash, Laura. It brings home how easy it is to romanticze other people's suffering and forget how terrifying the experience is/was.
ReplyDeletesuch beautiful and timeless story :)
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVery nice shot!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing;o)
***
Have a nice and happy day****
What a terrific shot! The reflection of the mountains and sky, so pretty!
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent story teller you are Laura! and photographer :) You have highlighted a few of my favorite nonprofit recipients. Wonderful post.
ReplyDeletexoxoxox
Hey I am just around the corner from you in Exeter. We have had a few members in the Curves where i work that have MS.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Laura, and yes...that could easily be the story of (too) many in in the world today. I love your photo, too...I first thought I was looking at the sky itself!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you tell a story. I could feel the mud and the water and the fear. I also love your ability to teach such powerful lessons with your stories. Thank you for this today.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! I like how you've compared the Exodus to modern day struggles for freedom.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing photo! Thanks for your commentson my blog! Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing an excellent post.
ReplyDeleteLove the reflection :)
enjoyed reading your post I invite you to come visit me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this story. This is the first time I'd heard it told like this. I'm very moved.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot.
ReplyDeleteMy Watery, I'd be delighted if you can take a peek.
What is faith? Faith is the loss of fear is freedom. And few use it in the correct term.
ReplyDeleteI am a witness to how your faith and your own suffering has enabled you to describe the Seder so eloquently.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line was "Your eyes had nearly been blinded by the commonness of suffering until now; you had been surviving in numb denial".
It isn't until we have suffered that we understand the suffering of all.
Oh WOW!! I have been standing at an edge very much like that for sometime now. I NEEDED to hear this story and your words AT THIS VERY MOMENT in my life. I know this may sound strange, but all of a sudden it is VERY clear to me what I should do and what the first step I take should be!!
ReplyDeleteI am not Jewish, but understand your words completely. THANK YOU for your story and relating it to the present!! You have an obvious gift. Glad to see you've found it and are putting it to good use!!
And to think that I was just 'popping' over to tell you thank you for your kind comments!! It was meant to be.... :D
I never read the Red Sea story quite like this. Fresh, real, with heart. And Amen – they were refugees – God’s refugees – but refugees. Thank you for this Seder touch on my life.
ReplyDeleteברוך השם, להחזיק אתכם ואת כל שלך
God bless and keep you and all of yours.
I love the way you breathed fresh life into this moment. I could stand there with you and feel the panic rising before the rescue.
ReplyDeleteI love the rich story telling tradition you share. It makes the events real and is the best way to experience history all these centuries later. I am sure the guests at your table were enthralled ~ I know I would have been.
ReplyDeleteYou've told this so very well, thank you. I feel as if each day offers some kind of edge, big or small ...
ReplyDeleteDear Laura,
ReplyDeletewe never know what will happens in the future....we never know what will find when will we crosss the other side of a river but I know it doesn´t matter what happens, my GOD will be with me....He will be with you. He will be with us.
Thanks for sharing a new text.
love u
http://graceolsson.com/blog/2011/04/nothing-lasts-forever-2/
Wonderful post Laura. ♥
ReplyDeletewonderful post and great photos
ReplyDeleteThat's a very nice story, it makes every one to ponder.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and love all your photos.
ReplyDeleteBut now you remember.
ReplyDeleteYou remember God.
this was so powerful, laura. you really put me there, in the moment, and made me feel God's power. the power of being remembered. i pray your day is holy and happy, dearest friend. xo
Beautiful post combining images and words.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your helping your daughter to her next step of growing up and hope she has the most amazing time in Paris.
Beautiful post Laura! You have such a visual way of telling a story, I can see it all in my mind, hear the cries, smell the mud.
ReplyDeleteIn 1974 I worked as an au-pair in the home of a jewish family in London, England. I had the privilege of celebrating Passover with them, such a unique experience!
I wish you a happy Passover, and much blessing as you celebrate with your loved ones, and as you follow your daughter's journey to Europe!
Hugs :-)