This was written by a friend and ex-member of AT.
If you are like me, most of the time, you just whip through the opening formula for brachot - "Baruch atah Hashem, Elokheinu, Melekh HaOlam" - without much conscious thought, let alone kavannah (intense focus).
Today, one aspect of the significance of what we are saying when we recite that formula really hit home for me.
We are saying that Hashem is "OUR G-D" and "KING."
This is extraordinary, bringing to my mind and affirming to G-d not only the fact of His kingship over us and our submission to Him, but also, the events that "had to take place" in order for Him to be OUR G-D and KING (i.e., in order to reveal Himself as such, according to His will), and, additionally, the historic and miraculous events which justify our claiming Him as our own:
~ the tzimtzum, which alludes to Hashem's humility in "contracting Himself," and thus, making room for the creation of the entire universe, apparently antithetical to Him, FOR OUR SAKE, out of love;
~ His creation of humankind in His Own image and likeness;
~ His rescuing us from the constrictions of Mitzrayim;
~ His giving of His Torah to us at Sinai;
~ His tender and patient care of us for 40 years in the Wilderness;
~ His deliverance of us from countless foes, and
~His myriad, myriad miracles and favors, in every season, at every hour. The biggest miracle of all being the fact of G-d's intimate relationship with, and never-ending covenantal love for, US!
Thus, we DARE to call Him "OUR G-D" and KING, and to affirm Him as such, at every opportunity.
I think I'll be a little more careful when reciting Brachot from now on.
