Have you ever written a letter to God? Wished that you could simply speak your Truth to the Divine and hear back? We all need that! And so does the Divine! This is what Shavuot is all about!
In one of my Rabbinical School classes on Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy, my chevruta (study partner) and I offered parallel interpretive translations of Psalm 42 written as letters from and to God.
With the permission of my chevruta, Cantor Russell G. Jayne, MSM, PharmD, I would like to offer our correspondence with the Divine to you in honor of the Shavuot holiday tonight and tomorrow. Chag Shavuot sameach! Have a wonderful Shavuot holiday!
A Love Letter from God
“Oh my beloved child.
You who have sought and yearned for me.
You who need me as much as life-giving water.
I see that you are in great distress, and that distress has distanced you from me.
I, who need you just as much.
I miss you my child.
You used to always be there. Every Festival, every Shabbat, every morning and evening.
And now, the weight of my world has drawn you away from me.
Your pain has caused you to doubt me and despair of ever reaching me again.
You are surrounded by those who tell you it is hopeless.
That there are no waters of healing and sustenance, only waters of destruction.
My child, their words are faithless and hollow, and in time, I know you will remember that.
I also know, that now may not be that time.
Yet, rest assured, my child.
I am sitting there, next to our favorite stream, waiting for you to rediscover your hope.
And I know that you will, my child.
Until that day, also know that I will wait for you and will try to make myself known to you in any way I can.
But I will not push, my child.
So until that time, know that I long for the day when we can sit once again by our favorite stream, together.
When we can once again be for each other, the water of life eternal.
Oh my beloved child.
We who have sought and yearned for each other.
We who need each other as much as life-giving water.
I pray you will feel my presence, let go of the weight of my world, and return to our favorite stream.”
(Written by Cantor Russell G. Jayne, MSM, PharmD)
A Love Letter to God
“Your beloved? Whom you yearn for? Ha! Where the hell have you been?!
I’ve been waiting here all along, and you’ve been nowhere to be found. I thirst for you and cry out for you, though no one believes me that you are there. Not even myself most days!
Of course, I am in distress! I walk along and go with the flow with everyone else pretending I believe in you or even know you. I do not believe you need me at all! I cannot!
I cry out to you, beg for you, reach out to you, yet I receive back nothing in return. Only the echoes of my desperation.
It does not feel like you miss me. I have been here all along! Yes, at every holiday, every temple service, at every crowd fighting off the kids to even hope for a glimpse into the holy sanctuary.
Yet, your words comfort me. I know you are trying your best. I appreciate your concern, even if I am to hurt to hear them. It is me who pushes you away. It is me who pours salt into your holy waters.
This sounds miserable, though I’d rather poison your river than wait there for you not knowing if you’ll even show up. It is just too painful!
Honestly, thank you for your patience. And telling me you’ll wait for me. I can be a tricky SOB. I had to just get this all out of my system, you know?!
I hate the ones I love the most and love the ones I hate the most. You’re God. Can’t you change that about me?! I’m sure you can relate! I get that people are tough for you, too!
In the meanwhile, I am going to walk over to our stream. Care to join me? Bring a blanket, and I will bring the food.
Sorry for being such a pain in the ass. I don’t mean it! I just get overwhelmed sometimes. I genuinely do love you, man!”
(Written by Adam G. Fogel PhD)
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Adam Fogel
www.mindfuljudaism.com