As I am typing these words, it is the morning of Rosh Hashanah; 6:11 a.m. EST here in the Philadelphia area. My eyes opened 30 minutes ago to greet the day. They may yet close to allow me to nap, since these days, my body clock’s ‘hands’ are unpredictable.  The holiday focuses on taking inventory of our lives and pushing the re-set button if we have wandered off the path. It is a mindfulness tool that helps us to become the people we were meant to be.

In earlier years, this holiday was spent in the synagogue with my parents and sister and the congregation in which I was raised. There was a comfort sitting beside my father, as his tallis (prayer shawl) was wrapped around me as well as him. Back then, girls (even those who became Bat Mitzvah), were not permitted to wear them in our branch of Judaism. In many ways, although he himself was raised Orthodox. he was forward thinking about our involvement in spirituality, believing that no one had the right to stand between us and the God of our understanding. I bless him for that.

I think of my computer as a means of connecting my head and heart with the world. Communication is one of the gifts given to me at birth, that I willingly choose to offer back out.  This message was bursting to come through. It is for this reason that I couldn’t go back to sleep no matter how much I wanted to. There is a symbolic feel to that, since once we are awakened, can we ever truly return to slumber?

Last week a physical gift was delivered, courtesy of my sister Jan. It is a silver bell formed from the top of a butter knife. The clapper is made of another part of the implement.  It makes a delightful sound as it hangs from the silver chain around my neck. The purpose, besides just looking and sounding pretty is that it is meant to be an instrument of blessing. Each time it rings, I am to think of a person and send out a loving thought or prayer to surround them. That is an easy and joyous task and one that not only benefits the recipients, but me as well. Imagine spending your day consciously transmitting love. How would that feel? I can tell you that it feels pretty awesome. It also re-directs me when I begin to worry or fret over something.

As I sit here in the (relative) stillness of my mind and fullness of my heart, I am sending prayers out for your wellbeing, for a life filled with love, for your deepest heart’s desires to come to fruition, for each step to be one of peace, for healing of wounds, for using your gifts in service to the world. I invite you to join me in offering your own blessings to those who cross your path and those you may never meet. Imagine a world like that.

It reminds me of a song by Nimesh Patel (Nimo)  called Prayers