From the Narrow Places
From the narrow places is an expression most widely used during the most distressful time in the Hebrew calendar. This period of time known as “Beit hametzarim”, which means between the days of distress. It is felt as a gradual increase of mourning customs and rituals which completes on the saddest holy day of the year, known as Tisha B’Av. Tisha B’Av marks the destruction of the First Temple and will be observed on Sundown, August 10th. It’s time to dutifully examine your own mortality.
Entering the Temple
The “job” and responsibility of every Jew is to embrace our own stuff and we do so when we refine our own Temple. Point blank: do your best to work towards tikkun olam, repairing yourself.
The truth about tomorrow.
My friends, in the end of days everything goes back to God. One way or another, you’re going home to God. So just for today and while you are in the narrow places, if there’s hatred in front of you, douse the fire of anger with love. Suture it’s wounds with compassion. Heal it’s injury with empathy.
Trusting the decree.
Trust God. Trust yourself. Stand for something. While you stand always remember there is only one judge and that judge is God.
Suggestions.
- Take a sacred pause to reflect upon the beautiful souls who are in the process of returning to God. As you do so, breathe deeply in support of those who can’t breathe and who need you to help them home.
2. Consider a practice of saying Viddui. Viddui is a confessional prayer that includes the Shema and it’s usually recited during the last breaths of one’s life. Here’s a few examples to grasp the concept.
3. Hold a living funeral. In an intimate setting, look at your mortality and experience the imagery of releasing yourself into death. A lesser intense experience is to hold a Death Cafe. Take a look I welcome your inquiry.
4. Preplan your funeral and I mean REALLY preplan. I’ve done this with families and even my own on Funeralwise.com. You can check in with your local funeral home. If you need my help or a referral, I welcome your inquiry.
I hope and pray this helps even one soul (beside myself).
Humbly,
Melinda
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