Gratitude and Tshuvah

As I hear the sounds of the shofar in Elul, my thoughts turn to tshuvah, to repentance.  I think of turning, of changing, considering our habits and our choices.  In that line of thinking, gratitude is central.  I am grateful for the opportunity to truly consider my life.  I am grateful for the gift of this time.  I am grateful for the blessings of my life.

Discussing Elul

For most rabbis, Elul is a time of great stress.  We consider every detail of the services.  We write and rewrite, write and rewrite, to craft messages that inspire and encourage deep thinking.  We think about the brief thoughts we will interject into our prayers.

Amidst this turmoil, we teach, we learn, we love, we visit, we pray.  There is nothing else I would rather do than walk with people on their spiritual journeys.  I am grateful for the tremendous gift of being invited into people's lives at their most joyful, most vulnerable, most challenged.  Every day is a blessing.  Do we notice?