Saturday, January 9, 2010

" I want someone to talk to me like Moses" Randi McMatthew

How old do you think Moses was when he saw the burning bush?

80 years old. And although he was to live to 120, he was still well past the prime of his life. I was reminded today of that fact when reading the Torah at services.

I have seen no burning bushes, heard no voices, never stood up to corrupt power mano a mano, been no agent of liberation for a whole nation, climbed no mountains, received no revelations, put down no rebellions, lead no people for 40 years through a moral, psychological, and physical transition from slavery to freedom, and I have never glanced into the promise land.

Moses did all this, and he started as octogenarian, dying some 40 years later at the edge of the promised land.

When I am overwhelmed by fatigue and a sense of the trying struggles ahead, it is important to pick the right mythical hero.

A flawed, quick tempered, "tongue tied" hero, separated from his people and religion most of his life, Moses is not for me an object of admiration of worship but a flesh and blood example of how to behave when you get the call to action. How to use what gifts you have, despite your age and limits.

Hey, I am only 58 and some say I have the gift of the gab, both advantages over my teacher.
My struggles are trivial. Limited. Not historical or mythical.

I have no grand delusions. I just want a cure, and by that cure, and the story of its twists and turns, I hope to shine a small light on on way out of the maze of sickness and despair for others lost in the dark.

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2 Comments:

Blogger Alison said...

Gift of the gab, I like that.

I've been thinking about "compassion and hope" for the new year, as you said recently.

Your struggle is hard - I'm here to read!

January 10, 2010 at 6:04 AM  
Blogger Judy Cleri said...

And for that reason you will. God will heal you so that you can travel the world and share your struggle both with the illiness and with faith. Everyone of us goes through though times of tribulations. God's intention is that they might produce in us "as it were a new song".......a smphony....the only thing that can stand in your way is sympathy....and you my friend will never go down that path as it is not in your makeup. You will be singing a smphony very soon!

To God be the glory,

J

January 10, 2010 at 9:19 AM  

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