Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said,
"In the coming world, they will nor ask me:
‘Why were you not Moses?'
They will ask me:
‘Why were you not Zusya?'"
Martin Buber
This is one of the most profound images from the Jewish mystical Hasidic tradition. It has been a guide for me over the years. What a relief to understand that the Holy One does not value us based upon how well we have patterned our lives after the saints. On the other hand, how intimidating it is to consider what constitutes being our full selves, exercising our God given gifts.
Of course, becoming fully ourselves is a lifelong task. It involves the process of loosening the expectations placed upon us by parents, peers, mentors, and often religion itself. This unraveling of who we are called to be and who we have been expected to be can be an arduous journey. I have found that often we need a permission-giver to encourage us to try something new, to risk different behavior. One of the joys of authentic community is that our gifts are called forth and we can discover the joy, and often the struggle, of attempting something larger than we had imagined. The church is full of such creative risking.
I have always liked Frederick Buechner's advice on Christian vocation which he defines as the intersection between our passion and the world's need. I suspect that is the place where we become ourselves.
In this period of my life, where I have the opportunity to see the past as a whole, you have helped me discern a shape and pattern of ministry which wasn't fully evident or conscious while it was in process. I am grateful for that insight and affirmation.
Posted by Donel at April 26, 2005 11:44 AM...and again I am teary.
I too have this quote in front of me - it's in my journal Donel. It has been one of my guides during this transition time in my own life. I know that by reclaiming all parts of me created and loved by G-d, I become a more integral part of our community.
And you are part of this creation of a community that does call forth our gifts - that stretches us - that tests us, that enables us to make our community authentic.
I wonder where all this wisdom will go eventually? Will we be able to access archives?
gil
Oh Donel, it is so wonderful to see the Zuysa (I always had it as Zeusa?) reference here. I was told the Zuysa piece in a long myth-like story version at a retreat years ago and it resonated so deeply for me that I have written about it and re-told it many many times .... I love being reminded about it, as it always makes me reflect hard on that poignant question.
What was intriguing was THEN to read your posting following the Buber piece about needing a permission giver to encourage us to try something new, to risk different behavior. I hope/think you know that you were that permission giver for me years ago when you encouraged me to mime in worship and attend the clown ministry conference in Seattle. What joy I have discovered through that gift of permission and encouragement you gave me!
And how amazing to have that whole juxtaposition of that posting be there for me to read this morning. Thank you.
Enjoyed our brief visit this week. (I will keep the image of the otter bowl with the rhodies close - and think I will remove the dusty seashells and put fresh rhodies in ours out at Lummi)!
Margie
Posted by: Margie Kimberley at April 30, 2005 07:55 AM
Thank you for that bit of wisdom Donel. That just made my day! I continue to struggle with the question of "what do I want to do when I grow up?", although the scope of the question has become smaller as I have found great satisfaction in my marriage and fatherhood. There have been many times where I find in retrospect that the biggest barrier has been me. Giving myself permission to do things (or getting past assumptions) is an ongoing exercise. Some of the best gifts I have given to others (and the best that others have given to me) have been the questioning of assumptions (or the giving of permission).
Posted by: Christopher Wilkins at April 26, 2005 01:01 PM