Cafe' fills with the aroma of brewing coffee,
A college girl attends to the counter, serving.
She assures me that she's liberated, modern.
Old styles of behavior play no role in her life.
So, I test her claim with a simple question,
"Would you be interested in a penniless boy?"
She hesitates and then admits, "Probably not."
A "got ya !" smile brakes out across my face,
"See, you have not yet transcended the mold.
You are far less liberal than you had imagined.
Your love is not yet pure - not totally selfless."
She gestures me in self surprised agreement.
Today, while driving this very story resurfaces.
Now, the very same question points in my way,
"What if my Creator enters my life penniless,
Not filling my goblet with His sweet blessings,
Would I love my Creator in pure selflessness?"
What would be the basis for such a pure love?
Apparently, this love isn't a love for His gifts.
It must only be a love for His shared Beingness.
~~~~~~~~~~~
FaceBook comments on this poem:
ReplyDeleteJC: wow, excellent work.
Choni Elchonon Kihleel: Thank you JC.
JC: make sure you copyright it or something to protect it . Obviously you are a talented writer and coupled with your knowledge and wisdom of Kabbalah is a powerful combination
Choni Elchonon Kihleel: The bottom of my blog page states, "All contents are copyrighted by author." Thank you for your concern. Though I don't know for sure, I'm hoping that this statement covers the legal requirement for a copyright protection. What's your understanding?
JC: not sure Choni, i don't wanna steer you wrong. But if you are going to write look into it. I don't know if you have AD as a facebook friend. She is a well known journalist, Jewish down to earth puts out a blog every sunday and just released a book. i would befriend here on facebook, tell her you heard her through me and ask her these questions, she would know. She is very knowledgble and very helpful. She was a former's Rabbis wife too.
Choni Elchonon Kihleel: I just sent her a friend request. Let's see what happens. I also happen to know an intellectual property attorney. I don't know if he's up to offering pro-bono advice. However, maybe the next time I happen to bump into him and have a casual conversation, provided that I keep it light, maybe he won't mind sharing with me some basics. Again, thank you for your concern.
AFL: likes the sentiment "You are far less liberal than you had imagined" and hopes it is prophetic and that there are many "liberals" who are actually "less liberal" than they have imagined... :~)
Choni Elchonon Kihleel: To AFL: Many people don't have as clear an image of where they stand on issues as they imagine. This is why the Talmud is consistantly using very extreme scenarios to clarify the Halachah (law). In the usual circumstances the Halachic behavior in Talmudic times was clear. However, the underlying logic only surfaces when forced to perform on the fringe. Then we find out what's really doing ! Similarly, this college student thought she knew herself better than she really did. So I did a little Talmudic trick to expose her to her own inner truth.
AFL: Yasher Koach, Choni!
Choni Elchonon Kihleel: My pleasure AFL :)
AFL: Of course, why else would you do it. Now for your next trick? :~)
Choni Elchonon Kihleel: LOL ! I need to check what's in the trick bag...