Courage

And I said:
O if only I had wings like the dove
I would fly away and find a restful abode.
I would wander afar while hastening
to find a haven from the stormy tempest. (Psalm 55:7–9)

And so I pray
that my spirit have the strength to soar,
that my heart have the courage to seek,
and my mind the wisdom to discover,
a life of meaning and purpose.

Grant me, O God,
strength,
courage,
and wisdom. 

-- Rabbi Karyn Kedar
Amen: Seeking Presence with Prayer, Poetry, and Mindfulness Practice (CCAR Press, 2020), p. 59

What is your prayer for the coming month of Elul? How would you define “a life of meaning and purpose”?

(from "Readings for the Month of Elul," kindly reprinted with permission from the Central Conference of American Rabbis)

Click on the sound file below to listen to Rabbi Gersh Lazarow sounding the shofar: