So much about Saturday's experience at the synagogue that makes me smile & makes me think...
The real joy that was present - from the beautiful young lady who was celebrating her BatMitzvah, to her parents and brothers, to the Rabbi and the cantor, to many of the guests who realized this was an inspired moment and celebration...
I love seeing people PRESENT in the moment... in the JOY of it... not just going through the motions...
Everything about the day was deliberate... thoughtful... appreciative.
The deference, respect and ceremony that is given to the Torah is inspiring. I tend not to be one for "ceremony" and I am too often critical of "traditions" where the original intent and inspiration of whatever started the tradition has been lost in the repetition... and now it's just habit. The uncovering of the Torah, the opening of the curtain, the handling of the scriptures, the "redressing"... There was a gratitude and an integrity to every part of it that was palpable.
So then, there was a point in the ceremony where the Rabbi said, let's do this Shabbat a little differently... "Join me if you will in a Shabbat Meditation"...
"Hmmm, I kind of like where this is going..." I thought to myself...
"Think back 7 days, to each and every day this past week, and remember it. Think about moments you had and moments you were grateful for... and go day by day.... start with Sunday..."
SERIOUSLY... Take a moment right now... close your eyes... WAIT - don't close them yet - read the next sentence and then close them...
In a moment - close your eyes and walk through each day of the week... and remember what you did... and remember what you loved... ok.... GO!...
...
...
Ok - I was IN too! So, I started thinking...
"What the HECK did I do last Sunday?"... "Come on dude... it was 7 days ago..." I thought...
Oh yes, I got up early and worked out... I was glad to do so... then I took my son to his basketball tournament in DC... It was a gorgeous morning... We laughed and played great music all the way down. I was so happy to be with him.
Actually, just rethinking this as I write, I remember that my wife surprised us and showed up at the game... between games we went to the National Harbor... it was a gorgeous blue sky... we walked along the water. It was beautiful. I was so happy to be with both of them, and admiring what an amazing place they had built on the harbor. There was an ANIMAE ? conference and people dressed as charicatures walked around like we were living in some weird scene from Star Wars. We had a delicious lunch and got back for the second game.
That night, I cooked a belated Valentine's dinner and we ate in the living room.
Monday... WHAT did I do Monday? What did I do at work??? Oh, that is right... I didn't go to work... I went to visit colleges with our middle son and my wife. We had some great conversations, and got to see some great colleges. I am not sure we had ever spent the day the three of us, or at least not for many, many years. We found a great Philly Cheesesteak place, which I am still digesting a week later. We talked... on the way back, my wife and I saw a video from Tony Robbins... I was grateful she was willing to watch it with me... while my son slept in the back... I had a great day...
And, on I went walking through my week... remembering days that had happened 5 days ago like it was a memory from years ago...
It amazed me how long it took me to remember specifically what I had done... and I was amazed by how much ground I had covered that week...
On Thursday, we had the best executive meeting we have had in probably 11 years with EMG... we are growing up... people are taking greater charge of their areas... the concept of accountability is slowly working its way into our organization in meaningful ways...
Friday, I got to play 9 holes of golf with my son... we played not so well, but loved almost every minute of it...
I had an unbelievable week... and here I was in this beautiful synagogue... feeling amazing... but until I started recalling and focusing... my mind was on the coming week, the unresolved stuff, the waves that needed riding...
I breathed deeply... and was grateful for the moment... for the week... for my life...
I want to do that every week... This whole religion thing might be on to something ;-)
Such a simple exercise... such an amazing ride... through MY OWN WEEK... through MY OWN LIFE...
Harmony is right there... ALL THE TIME... just a moment away... just a thought away...
All of the "stuff" of the upcoming week remains...
And, I am off now... creating a whole new set of experiences this week... tackling the things that I am fortunate enough to be able to tackle...
And, come Saturday or Sunday... I will remember the warm and joyful Rabbi and his melodious friend... and I will think about the words, Shabbat Shalom...
And, I will reflect back to my week...
day by day...
in harmony,
Nestor