Gut Yontif & Shanah Tovah

This evening begins Yom Kippur, the end of the High Holy Days for Jews.  This is a ten day period beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  It is a time for contemplation, repentance, and atonement for the preceding year and anticipation of the year to come. 

As I sat in services tonight, I reviewed the past year.  I've come to realize that I've just been through one of the most fulfilling and challenging years of my life.  I've settled into motherhood, watching my baby become a little boy.  I accomplished several goals I had set for myself... losing my baby weight, becoming a b'nai mitzvah (adult bat mitzvah), running my first 10k race, and being named "Woman of the Year" for my Jewish womens' group.  

But, this year has definitely not been without its challenges.  People have let me down and disappointed me and I'm sure I have done the same to others.  I have made some hard decisions this year.  Some decisions which have sometimes left me lonely and sometimes sad, but have been the right decisions.  I have learned a lot about what is important to me at this stage in my life and I think my family has grown closer for it.

While reading the prayerbook* tonight, several passages spoke to me and I thought I would share them with you.  

"Source of mercy, give us the grace to show forbearance to those who offend against us.  When the wrongs and injustices of others wound us, may our hearts not despair of human good.  May no trial, however severe, embitter our souls and destroy our trust.  When beset by trouble and sorrow, our mothers and fathers put on the armor of faith and fortitude.  May we too find strength to meet adversity with quiet courage and unshaken will.  Help us to understand that injustice and hate will not forever afflict the human race; that righteousness and mercy will triumph in the end."

And to those that I have wronged in some way within the last year, I apologize and will try to learn from my mistakes in the coming year.  

"For all those (sins), O god of Mercy (and to my family and friends), forgive me, pardon me, grant me atonement!"

So, even if you are not Jewish, while I sit in the sanctuary tomorrow, you might still take a moment to review your year and think how you might make the coming year just a bit better.  

*excerpts from the Gates of Repentance Prayerbook.