Time

Time... People used to tell me that time went faster the older you got and I didn't believe them. Now I do. It is so hard for me to imagine that we are already almost half way through 2026. Seriously - where has the year gone?

There are days I wish time would stand still. There are more days that I am thankful things keep moving forward. It's just that now things seem to be more - trying to think of the right word as I sit here typing - discombobulated then they used to be.

Mixed up. Exhausting. Questioning. Lack of trust. It really takes it toll on everyone. The faster time seems to move, the more the world begins to spin out of control.

Conversations with several people makes me know that I am not the only one who is exhausted and wonders what it next. Bored, and yet crazy busy. Anxious. Just trying to make it through another day.

Time - how did we get to this place? What happened over the years that has us so caught up in these scenarios?

Having lived in Israel I came to appreciate Shabbat. LOVED having Saturday to reset and refresh myself and my thoughts.

America has forgotten how to rest. We have forgotten how to take time to care for ourselves. We always need an activity. We always need noise. I've fallen into this trap myself. Trying to distract myself from my anxious thoughts I turn on a show.

SomeTIMEs we need to sit and do nothing. We need to stop and be. We need to make TIME and stop.

Here is a prayer from the Shabbat book:

WE REACH for You, our God

from our quiet places.

May we stand still, for a brief moment,

and listen to the rain --

Stand still, for a brief moment,

and watch the play of sunlight and shadow on the leaves.

For a brief moment -- listen to the world.

Let us stop the wheels of every day to be aware of Shabbat.

Find the stillness of the sanctuary which the soul cherished.

Renew the Covenant of an ancient people.

We need a quiet space to test the balance of our days.

The weight of our own deeds

against the heaviness of the world's demands.

the balance is precarious -- steady us with faith:

Quiet places and stillness --

where we will hear our own best impulses speak.

Quiet places and stillness --

from which we will reach out to each other.

We will find strength in silence

and with this strength

we will turn again to Your service.

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Mishkan T'Filah A Reform Siddur

Friends - don't forget that in the craziness of the world there is a Creator who LOVES you and wants you to just BE with Him. He wants you to know that time does not matter to Him. In fact, time often stops when you decide to spend time with Him. He brings peace. He brings calm. Those moments bring time back into alignment.

Don't let the world become a blur that passes you by. STOP and BE in the moment with Him. SEE the beauty HE created. Let Him love you and show you the beauty of His plan.

Find strength in taking TIME to be silent. Use that strength to take TIME to love those around you. That is the service He desires from us.

Love and blessings,

Rose

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