An Earth Day Reflection

This poem is part of an article on Humanistic Jews and Mussar that will be published in the Summer 2023 issue of Humanistic Judaism magazine.

Mussar and Humanism on a Walk

By J. Bruce Hillenberg, Ph.D.

There is splendor and gratitude everywhere. 

There and there and every way I look.

I pay attention with silence and patience. 

I walk softly to honor the earth below and the skies above. 

A relaxing feeling ensues as I appreciate the generosity of nature. 

This confirms that I must reciprocate the favor in small and meaningful ways. 

I stroll and acknowledge with humility that nature and our community are one. 

My pace picks up a bit—oh, that is what the masters mean by enthusiasm. 

Then I realize my mind has been quiet—a lesson on equanimity. 

And the forest around seems so, so organized—the softness of order. 

Then a leaf presents itself—colors ablaze—the power of simplicity. 

Finally, I rest for a moment by a tree, gently leaning on the trunk—ah, moderation! 

Yikes, on a simple path through the forest I recognize what compassion and goodness feels like. 

I silently stroll on.