When Jews fleeing Egypt stood at the water’s edge, what did they feel?

In those moments before the Red Sea’s waters parted, did they wonder if God had abandoned them?

Were they ready to die rather than return and submit themselves to Pharoah’s yoke?

Shabbat Shirah: The Sabbath of Song

Recently, I had the honor of participating in a multi-faith sabbath of song, celebrating the liberation of the oppressed.

This decades-long tradition, involving musical artists from Baptist, Presbyterian and Jewish houses of worship, aligns with the reading of the Biblical passage in Exodus in which Miriam breaks into song as the Red Sea parts, liberating the enslaved Israelites.

The entire service was an essential reminder of the Judeo-Christian values of welcoming the stranger, lifting the oppressed, loving our neighbors, upholding truth and justice, and treating each other as we should — as equal parts of God’s body.

Caring for the least of us

Music has the power to cross borders, build connections and engage emotions. This service was no exception.

In particular, a song by local duo Lapidus and Myles called “I Am” moved me because it reminded me of something our leaders seem to have forgotten: We need to care for the least among us.

All our politicians seem to care about is making rich people richer, limiting legal action when people wrong us, and trying to make us hate each other. This doesn’t seem to align with anything I learned in Sunday school.

‘I Am’ a blessing

Instead, the best path to honoring the American Dream promises to lift the downtrodden and help all Americans move ahead without excluding, persecuting or leaving others behind.

Whether we agree or not, we all have a right to exist.

This is beautifully expressed in the song “I Am” by Micah Lapidus and Melvin Kindall Myles:

Whether you see me or not, whether you believe in me or not, whether you love me or not, I am.

Whether you stand with me or not, whether you embrace me or not, whether you see me or not, I am.

Clothed in dignity, I am.

Bathed in love, I am.

I am a prayer, I am a prayer, I am.

I am a blessing, I am a prayer, I am.

You are a blessing, too. You are a prayer.

I hope you feel that.

And if you do not, I hope that as a community we can help you feel less alone.

Challenge: Be in the community

Your challenge this week is to:

1. Think of all the spaces you inhabit where you rub shoulders with people—home, neighborhoods, schools, shopping centers, spiritual houses of worship, hospitals, crafting circles, sports clubs—wherever you are not alone. If you’ve been hiding, try to find one place to go where others might dwell.
2. Practice seeing everyone you meet. What do I mean? On a basic level, make eye contact and smile at as many strangers as possible. If they’re people you know, find the time to commune and converse with them.
3. When you are in the community, quiet your mind. Reserve judgment. Let go of your assumptions.
4. See if you can feel the blessing each person can bestow—not by doing anything, but by simply existing.

Let me know how it goes! Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below or tag @trulykristi on social channels. 🙂