This evening will mark the beginning of the Jewish holy day known as Yom Kippur. It is a solemn day intended for repentance and atonement. The shofar, a ram's horn is sounded, and observant Jews enter into a period of fasting. The magazine Tikkun includes a supplement every year inviting people of any and all faiths to do some serious reflection on their thoughts and actions. The supplement is a sort of self-examination work book. There are a number of headings to help the process:
What is spiritually out of alignment with my relationships?
How spiritually nourishing is my work?
Am I taking enough time to nourish my soul and body?
Am I giving real energy to Tikkun Olam, healing and repairing the world?
These questions and the supplementary questions are an excellent opportunity to "take stock" with God. Repentance is one of those religious words that we know but don't really understand. The Tikkun supplement is a worthwhile way to make it meaningful and practical.
It seems to me the supplement, by posing open ended questions, invites the art of 'pausing'. It isn't a check list or a quizz, which is how most things are presented to us as if the work can be done for us and we just have to nod by way of a check mark in a tiny square without skipping a beat in our day.
ReplyDeleteYou're right pupil. This is an invitation to be honest, open to God, and to go deeper. Not the Cosmo "how is your love life?" check list. We probably need to do this several times a year.
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