A Hanukkah Rhyme
For 5761Miracles In Our Midst
You can tell by the candles
menorah alight
that Hanukkah's happening
recalling Macabbean might.
A custom of mine
that at this holiday time
when Shabbat and Hanukkah collide
Something out of the norm
in bad po-e-tic form
I, with a wink, do provide
Now, I could, I suppose
deliver sermon in prose
but somehow that just wouldn't seem right
And so, for tonight
Hanukkiyah burning bright
a rhyming message, now to proposeYou might think it strange
and unsettling a bit
a bad poem such as this
recited from the pulpit
I won't disagree
I won't argue the point
If you choose not to listen -- Okay
But if for a moment give ear
Bad rhyme, yes – but good lesson -- you'll hear
Something worthwhile – a thought for the day.
So, here's the main point of my message:
At its heart Hanukkah
Miracles celebrate
that a single day's oil
lasted for eight
The Maccabees preserved
our traditions in tact
Judaism they kept well alive
With God's help they won out
and to this day without doubt
our traditions continue to thrive
We like to marvel,
that in times long ago
God would, in our moment of need,
Step into the fray
just in time, save the day,
Divine intervention, oh yes indeed
But how about today?
Is this still happening?
Can we see
God
using miracles, and wonders
not as fireworks and thunders
But in everyday life
And in everything?
If you think that a miracle only can be
when God destroys enemies
or parts a great sea...
Then, it might be hard and a stretch, yes it would
to suggest that such miracles happen – or could
But if one simply asks:
Do miracles happen?
You bet that they do.
Wonders all about do abound
If we look closely we'll see
Ear, mind and heart open, possibly
God's hand in our life will be found
Consider God's presence in our vast natural world
in the order of life's usual ways
In the morn, sun doth rise
And at night, starry skies
Awesome order to each of our days
During and throughout the year
you can be sure and never fear
the seasons, they will come and go,
hot summers and some winter snow
Throughout the earth
there's air to breath
You can be sure
you must believe
And water for us all to drink
providing life
how great to think...
Now, you might suggest
could be, you have thought
that these things miracles?
Surely they're not!
That the order,
the workings,
the ways of the world,
by chance or by accident,
occurred and unfurled
Think this way – yes you can
I suppose that's your choice
But in each of these things
Many might likely
hear God's unmistakable voice
They're everyday miracles
ordinary event
but when we pause just to notice them
Sacred wonders, heaven sent
Some other miracles
we might not recognize
but they are present before us
in front of our eyes:
Just the fact that each of us
can if we try –
learn new things
change bad ways
forgive...
that is why...
Each of these choices
a miracle true
each one of us growing
so much we can do.
Each woman and man
every young child too
resilient souls each of us
God's creation
through and through.
There are lights in our lives and great miracles true
Perhaps one is right there,
in the seat next to you
Our friends and our families
the people we love
They are most absolutely
miracles sent from above.
For they care about us,
and we love them right back
for compassion and kindness
they have a true knack.
The gleam in their eyes,
when they are right nearby,
The warmth they inspire
miracles from on high
Well, by now, I am certain
the message is clear
miracles still do happen
If you look, think and hear
So, my poem it has ended
Silly rhyme, it is done
I do hope it provided
a moment for fun.
As you go forth this evening
As you leave here tonight
I wish you happy menorah's
and to all a good light!
You can tell by the candles
menorah alight
that Hanukkah's happening
recalling Macabbean might.
A custom of mine
that at this holiday time
when Shabbat and Hanukkah collide
Something out of the norm
in bad po-e-tic form
I, with a wink, do provide
Now, I could, I suppose
deliver sermon in prose
but somehow that just wouldn't seem right
And so, for tonight
Hanukkiyah burning bright
a rhyming message, now to propose
You might think it strange
and unsettling a bit
a bad poem such as this
recited from the pulpit
I won't disagree
I won't argue the point
If you choose not to listen -- Okay
But if for a moment give ear
Bad rhyme, yes – but good lesson -- you'll hear
Something worthwhile – a thought for the day.
So, here's the main point of my message:
At its heart Hanukkah
Miracles celebrate
that a single day's oil
lasted for eight
The Maccabees preserved
our traditions in tact
Judaism they kept well alive
With God's help they won out
and to this day without doubt
our traditions continue to thrive
We like to marvel,
that in times long ago
God would, in our moment of need,
Step into the fray
just in time, save the day,
Divine intervention, oh yes indeed
But how about today?
Is this still happening?
Can we see
God
using miracles, and wonders
not as fireworks and thunders
But in everyday life
And in everything?
If you think that a miracle only can be
when God destroys enemies
or parts a great sea...
Then, it might be hard and a stretch, yes it would
to suggest that such miracles happen – or could
But if one simply asks:
Do miracles happen?
You bet that they do.
Wonders all about do abound
If we look closely we'll see
Ear, mind and heart open, possibly
God's hand in our life will be found
Consider God's presence in our vast natural world
in the order of life's usual ways
In the morn, sun doth rise
And at night, starry skies
Awesome order to each of our days
During and throughout the year
you can be sure and never fear
the seasons, they will come and go,
hot summers and some winter snow
Throughout the earth
there's air to breath
You can be sure
you must believe
And water for us all to drink
providing life
how great to think...
Now, you might suggest
could be, you have thought
that these things miracles?
Surely they're not!
That the order,
the workings,
the ways of the world,
by chance or by accident,
occurred and unfurled
Think this way – yes you can
I suppose that's your choice
But in each of these things
Many might likely
hear God's unmistakable voice
They're everyday miracles
ordinary event
but when we pause just to notice them
Sacred wonders, heaven sent
Some other miracles
we might not recognize
but they are present before us
in front of our eyes:
Just the fact that each of us
can if we try –
learn new things
change bad ways
forgive...
that is why...
Each of these choices
a miracle true
each one of us growing
so much we can do.
Each woman and man
every young child too
resilient souls each of us
God's creation
through and through.
There are lights in our lives and great miracles true
Perhaps one is right there,
in the seat next to you
Our friends and our families
the people we love
They are most absolutely
miracles sent from above.
For they care about us,
and we love them right back
for compassion and kindness
they have a true knack.
The gleam in their eyes,
when they are right nearby,
The warmth they inspire
miracles from on high
Well, by now, I am certain
the message is clear
miracles still do happen
If you look, think and hear
So, my poem it has ended
Silly rhyme, it is done
I do hope it provided
a moment for fun.
As you go forth this evening
As you leave here tonight
I wish you happy menorah's
and to all a good light!
