September 26, 2009, 6:55 p.m. Erev Yom Kippur, the Eve of the Day of Atonement as I was fasting and praying for Israel and the Jewish people.
Muted colors,
Fading glory,
The sun now dropped well below the golden hills.
The birds have silenced their songs,
Wearied, quieted, and at rest.
I reflect upon the varied treasures You brought to my heart —
From dawn to dusk —
A feast for my soul.
Flickering candle light . . .
Growing shadows of the room
Where I gather thoughts that
Query my heart of the mysteries . . .
But, for now,
Laid to rest.
“I will draw near yet again
And will ask Him . . . “
Praises escape my grateful heart for answered prayers
And takes hope for those yet answered.
A nation sleeps,
Afflicted again —
Another year to wonder if their names are written in His Book . . .
Will the Judge of all the earth
Consider their earnest offering?
I carried their names before His Throne today . . .
Reminding Him . . .
” They are still engraved uponYour Hand! Every name . . .
Look close . . . You will see . . . “
I was petioning today for so many —
Prodigals, pain-wracked bodies, unhealed organs,
Hearts still broken, tormented minds,
Estranged families, those far from His mercy,
Running to His Love —
“O Lord . . . Save!
O Lord . . . Hear!
O Lord . . . Answer swiftly!
“Vindicate the helpless,
Release the abused, the bound, the prisoners!”
Candle-shadows flickering on my walls
Like reflections of afflicted davening souls
Lingering at the Wall in Jerusalem,
At Shul somewhere in the Diaspora,
Anxious to receive a sign of forgiveness.
“Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,
Have mercy on Your people Israel.
Reveal Yeshuah in Your Torah,
Bring Your people shalom in our days.
Unveil them now . . .
Isn’t this Joel’s Time?”
My heart sang the ancient prayer along with the House of Israel:
Ose shalom bimromav, hu ya’ase shalom aleinu.
V’al kol Israel, v’imru, Amen.
May He who makes peace in the heavens,
May He make peace upon us, and all Israel.
Amen.
Leave a comment