The Jewish community is celebrating Rosh HaShana it is a period of time when people search themselves and reflect on the past year. They humble themselves before God and make restitution to those they have wronged.
There is a story that the old Jewish wise men would say to their followers……..”Repent one day before you die. But who knows the day that you will die?” Of course none of us knows the day of our death so therefore we should always be in a state of repentance!
On Rash HaShana…….
.” It is a time for intense introspection on one’s life, achievements, failures and goals. Simultaneously, it is a time for communal reflection and involvement. When we enumerate our sins on Yom Kippur, each individual has his or her own list, yet the format we recite is in plural language. Sentence after sentence begins with the words “We have sinned…” rather than, “I have sinned.” (Quoted from Rabbi Daniel Lappin from his website)
We do not generally pray in the plural language that the Rabbi describes. Perhaps when we come together for our cooperate worship and we speak for the whole congregation. I do remember Moses praying for the sins of the people….seeking God’s forgiveness.
Do we as Christians remember to humble ourselves before the Lord…asking His forgiveness for our failure to live up the tasks he has set before us? Do we search ourselves, in relation to what He requires of us? Do we forgive others for some suspected or intentional wrong done to us? That’s a hard one.
Since my illness I have reflected on things in my life that at one time seemed important……but now seem so trivial. I am getting the big picture. I am finally learning to ask less and spend more time in seeking repentance.
Repentance means humility. Risking our self worth; risking our own desires instead of seeking God’s will; risking His answer…..that it might be no.
That the risk of humility ……………… Go ahead and take the risk !!!
AbideLines 