Return to God

'Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded: 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The Levites instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read' - Nehemiah 8:6-8

There are everyday events, ever-recurring moments. To eat and to drive yourself into a state, to do shopping and to repair broken things, to study and to take money out of your purse, to examine your bank balance and to risk taking the road, these are everyday events. In Nehemiah 8:3 one of the most uncommon moments in life is described: 'And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.'

This unusual moment does not occur of its own accord or unexpectedly. It does not come like snow in summer, or like an unexpected comet out of space. This moment of reverence and worship, of focusing purely on the meaning of our existence, this Core of the universe, the very truth itself, will dawn only for those who seek it. It can come daily: wonderously, incomparably and joyfully.

Lord, great God, this is the way I would like to stand before You - alone, or my life partner and I, or my entire household. This is the way I would like to sing your praise. Please grant us your true prophets, able to explain the law to the congregation, so that we may be Your Levite, if I must explain the words of this Book, let me be guided, according to Your promise, by Your Holy Spirit - Amen!