Wean from the Past, to Sing in the Present

How do we deal with so much uncertainty and so much sorrow that we each go through in life? 

Just landed back in Jerusalem and what’s on everybody’s lips is “we just dont know what tomorrow brings.”

If we are honest - none of us know for sure what tomorrow brings or which way the wind brings. In the gap between security and familiar settings and the great unknown comes poetry - and faith.  Whoever wrote the PSLAMS is dancing on that thin line constantly. 

This past week’s set of PSLAMS have a lot of hide and seek with god’s face - from loss to total connection. This last chapter of the week ends with a song of trust -- 

וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ בְּחַסְדְּךָ֣ בָטַחְתִּי֮ יָ֤גֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּֽישׁוּעָ֫תֶ֥ךָ אָשִׁ֥ירָה לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֖י גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי׃

But I trust in Your faithfulness,

my heart will exult in Your deliverance.

I will sing to GOD,

who has been good to me.

Ps 13:6

The last few words are interesting to translate. GAMAL could mean ‘good’, ‘rewarding’ and also connected to the term for ‘weaning’ -- what a baby does when no longer nursing. 

There is a connection here between a baby that is no longer nursing and still connected to the great source of life -- and us. How do we live our lives in the gap of sufficient presence, no scarcity, independence - and yet deep connection and reliance to the source?  The word ‘gamal’ here is a wink, a riddle, an invitation that is worth visiting again - and we will. 

I leave you with a link to this beautiful musical rendition of this verse: 

Aharon Razel - Psalm 13

Upon this Shabbat of Passover - may liberation from what no longer serves us be everybody’s precious lot. Health and healing, hope and patience

Shabbat Shalom.