I was thinking about the concept of Teshuva (as one tends to do during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva) and what it's all about. Many define it as Repentance. Some refer to it as Return. I thought of another definition recently. Maybe Teshuva is about Retreat. I don't mean it in the sense of running away from something scary. In fact, Yom Kippur kind of gets a bad rap as a scary day when we beg God to have mercy. The truth is that Yom Kippur is the happiest day of the year. It's the day we are given a new chance, a chance to symbolically enter the Mikva and remove all the spiritual dirt. And it's also the day we received the 2nd Luchot after theSin of the Golden Calf.
A couple of weeks ago we took our Middle School students away for a 2 day Retreat at a campsite. It was a great trip, full of team building and group bonding. And it also got me thinking about this concept of Retreat. Maybe Retreat is about taking a step back from our day to day routine, and looking at the bigger picture. It's about seeing the forest for the trees. You see, we are all so busy with our lives and our day to day stuff that we often lose sight of where we are heading. Which, if you think about it, is kind of crazy. It would be like driving on the highway and only knowing where each new exit is but not our ultimate destination.
Maybe Teshuva is about retreating from our routine and taking a day to ask ourselves, what is this life I am living really all about? What am I trying to achieve? Where am I headed and am I on the right track to get there? Sometimes we ask ourselves these questions at this time of year and realize that we headed off course a little, like a sailboat caught in the crosswinds and currents. And so we use our compass, our spiritual GPS, and readjust our coordinates, so that we can get back on track.
This Yom Kippur, I wish each of us the wisdom and courage to retreat, to step back from everything we assume is working, and from everything we are used to and comfortable with, and to reassess if we are heading where we really want to be. Gmar Chatima Tova...
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Ultimate Tour Guide
Erev Rosh Hashana brings with it so many thoughts and emotions. Tonight is the beginning of a new year, full of potential and unknown. For some people this can feel exciting; for others terrifying. As I reflect back on the past year I had no idea, sitting in shul last Rosh Hashana, that I would find myself, one year later, living in Houston, TX! It wasn't even on my radar screen. Looking forward, who knows what the coming year will bring? Hopefully only exciting opportunities, and happy memories.
Now, I'm the type of person who likes to have it all figured out. I like to know where I'm going, how I get there, and how long the journey will take. [And if there are some nice spots to see along the way I usually like to have those planned out in advance as well]. But maybe Rosh Hashana night is about reminding ourselves to trust Hashem that it'll all work out in the end. That even though we don't always know where we're going, it's ok because He does.
This reminds me of a song by Eef Barzelay called "I Love the Unknown." It includes the following lyric: "They ask him, "Hey where is this bus going?" And he said, "Well, I'm really not sure." "Well then how will you know where to get off?" And he said, "The place with the most allure!"
When we recite Malchuyot in shul, when we hear the pure sound of the Shofar, let's remind ourselves that Hashem has a great itinerary planned for us. And that even when we feel lost or stuck in the mud, even when the road detours from the planned route, it's not setting us back, but rather helping us realize that there was something we were supposed to pick up along the way that we haven't picked up yet. A sight that we don't want to miss.
This Rosh Hashana night, I remind myself to trust Hashem, who never steers me wrong. And to embrace the new paths waiting to be discovered. As I eat the simanim (the symbolic foods) I will remember that there are signs posted everywhere in my life directing me and helping me along. And as I bless my children, with my eyes closed, I will try to give them the internal compass called Emunah (faith) they will need to navigate the journey of their lives as well.
Wishing each of us a year of health, happiness, and growth. May we appreciate the blessings of the coming year and not take them for granted. And may we approach any challenges that may come with the faith that they are meant to help us grow stronger.
Now, I'm the type of person who likes to have it all figured out. I like to know where I'm going, how I get there, and how long the journey will take. [And if there are some nice spots to see along the way I usually like to have those planned out in advance as well]. But maybe Rosh Hashana night is about reminding ourselves to trust Hashem that it'll all work out in the end. That even though we don't always know where we're going, it's ok because He does.
This reminds me of a song by Eef Barzelay called "I Love the Unknown." It includes the following lyric: "They ask him, "Hey where is this bus going?" And he said, "Well, I'm really not sure." "Well then how will you know where to get off?" And he said, "The place with the most allure!"
When we recite Malchuyot in shul, when we hear the pure sound of the Shofar, let's remind ourselves that Hashem has a great itinerary planned for us. And that even when we feel lost or stuck in the mud, even when the road detours from the planned route, it's not setting us back, but rather helping us realize that there was something we were supposed to pick up along the way that we haven't picked up yet. A sight that we don't want to miss.
This Rosh Hashana night, I remind myself to trust Hashem, who never steers me wrong. And to embrace the new paths waiting to be discovered. As I eat the simanim (the symbolic foods) I will remember that there are signs posted everywhere in my life directing me and helping me along. And as I bless my children, with my eyes closed, I will try to give them the internal compass called Emunah (faith) they will need to navigate the journey of their lives as well.
Wishing each of us a year of health, happiness, and growth. May we appreciate the blessings of the coming year and not take them for granted. And may we approach any challenges that may come with the faith that they are meant to help us grow stronger.
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