Meditation on Honi the Circle-Drawer

[I have written about Honi the Circle-Drawer before.]

In the time of Jesus of Nazareth, there lived in Israel a man called Honi the Circle-Drawer. We know of Honi the Circle-Drawer because the Jewish tradition considered him and men like him to be favored sons of God.

Honi the Circle-Drawer was famous for performing a particular kind of miracle. He would go to villages throughout Israel experiencing drought and he would promise the people rain. Honi the Circle-Drawer would walk to a spot just outside of the village and pray. Then, he would crouch down, put his finger into the dirt, and draw a circle around himself in the parched earth. When he had closed the circle, Honi the Circle-Drawer would stand and face the East, resolved not to step outside the circle until God made it rain. Honi the Circle-Drawer would not move until Heaven blessed the land.

I think this is what any proclamation of love is; clutching the greater half of one's whole, drawing a circle in the dust, and refusing to budge until the heaven above open up and pour.

Honi the Circle-Drawer knew rain is always coming. Those in love know rain is always on the way and are brave enough to stand together until it rains on each and everyone of us.