What's Ahead

Yesterday was my congregation's last Shabbat service. Originally, the last service was to be next week, but the leaders needed more time to get the building cleared out. My rabbi was clever--he didn't tell us until after yesterday's service was over that it was the last one. That way, we were not distracted by the fact that it was the last service, and instead fully paid attention to his talk on the week's Torah portion.

After the rabbi said the Aaronic blessing over us for one last time, we all hung around and just chatted with each other and enjoyed each other's company. It was a joyful time.

I'm excited about what's to come. Now is the perfect time for me to stop being lazy and take personal responsibility for my spiritual growth. You know how it is--you're less likely to do the reading yourself if you know that someone else is just going to explain it all to you anyway. Now is the time for me to be more intentional. To read the Torah (and haftarah) portions on my own. To delve into the entire Bible with more fervor. To pray and really seek God for His direction in our lives. To listen. To keep practicing my Hebrew.

It has only been one day, but I already feel a change coming.

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
~Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)