"Flooded with Relief"

Remembering that today is Yom Kippur, I read the article on "Judaism 101" about the day. Among other interesting aspects, the author notes that the communal confessions of the day include a general list, a longer, more specific list, and also a "catch-all" confession, "Forgive us the breach of positive commands and negative commands, whether or not they involve an act, whether or not they are known to us."

The author writes: "It is interesting to note that these confessions do not specifically address the kinds of ritual sins that some people think are the be-all-and-end-all of Judaism. There is no "for the sin we have sinned before you by eating pork, and for the sin we have sinned against you by driving on Shabbat" (though obviously these are implicitly included in the catch-all). The vast majority of the sins enumerated involve mistreatment of other people, most of them by speech (offensive speech, scoffing, slander, talebearing, and swearing falsely, to name a few). These all come into the category of sin known as "lashon ha-ra" (lit: the evil tongue), which is considered a very serious sin in Judaism." http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday4.htm

What a wonderful reminder! I've known an awful lot of gossipy Christians over the years and have been very hurt by some. I've never meant to hurt anyone's feelings but I'm sure I have.  Prayers for our big mouths would be wonderful prayers---and also soul searching for what stupid things we've said to people and how, if possible, we can make amends.

But words also bless! Browsing the internet, I also found these words of poetry and mediation concerning Yom Kippur: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/by-topic/poetry/words-for-yom-kippur/7033/ Check these out; they're all wonderful truths. I lift this one out as particularly wonderful to me personally, because of the assurance that God "knows we are dust" (Psalm 104:13). (This quote also reminds me a little of a Christian poem by John Donne, "Hymn to God the Father.")

"I am grateful for this, / a moment of truth, / grateful to stand before You / in judgment. / You know me as a liar / and I am flooded with relief / to have my darkest self / exposed at last. / Every day I break my vows— / to be the dutiful child, / selfless parent, caring friend, / responsible citizen of the world. / No one sees, no one knows / how often I take the easy way, / I let myself off the hook, / give myself the benefit of / the doubt— / every day, every day. / On this day, this one day, / I stand before You naked, / without disguise, without / embellishment, naked, /shivering, ridiculous. / I implore You— / let me try again. (Merle Feld, poet, playwright, activist, and educator)"