Forgiveness

Today - September 8, 2010
Rosh Hashanah – Ten Days of Awe – Yom Kippur

"May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."
Claudia Hill Duffee, MA

Forgiveness… what is this?
- a way out of the mess
- a way out of strife
where we have lived
in our lives far too long?

Forgiveness… can we forget,
the slights
that we perceivein our lives,
that come at us
much too fast,
and much too strong?

Yes, but what about “our” rights?

Forgiveness… can we let go
of the past,
to unclasp,
and then,
can we really
gasp the fresh

new air?

Forgiveness…
can we avoid
the snare
of unhealthy fruit?
Can we let go of
bitter roots?

Rosh Hashanah -
begins ten days,
can we focus -
will we pray -
for all the hurtful ways

we find in life?

Will we really take the time?

Ten Days of Awe -
can we seek;
will we become
strong - or weak,
as we meditate,
and contemplate,
to start anew,
forgiven, fresh,
this new year?

Forgiveness…
as God’s servants,

we will see;

as pray-ers,
we will with certain
meet,

the errors,
from the ways
of others sins.

Must we pay
for “their” price…
for all the wrongs
they’ve brought to lives?
And then must we make
amends - to try
once again
to live in peace?

Now… let’s remember when
Daniel stood in the gap,
and offered to take the rap
for his ancestors’
shortcomings,
blindness, poor

decisions, and

deaf ears.

Think again
how Daniel prayed,
and how he grasped
his nation’s lack
from years of careless living,

harsh words spoken,
not freely giving,
laws forgotten,
no Sabbath living - and
yet he asked
from his God - help
for them.

Forgiveness…
can we ask
for changed ways?
Can we ask
for another day,
for an extra chance
to live new ways
to try again?

Forgiveness… Yes -
we can,
begin again,
as neighbors
and as friends,Yes -
we can,
forgive again.

Notes: The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur
are commonly known as the Days of Awe or the Days of Repentance
- a time for serious introspection to consider the sins of the previous year and repent.

One of the ongoing themes of the Days of Awe is the concept that G-d
has "books" that he writes our names in, writing down who will live
and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life,
for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah,
but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter G-d's decree.
The actions that change the decree are "teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah,"
repentance, prayer, good deeds (usually, charity).

These "books" are sealed on Yom Kippur.
This concept of writing in books is the source of the common greeting
during this time is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."