God of the Breakthrough

God, You are the God of the breakthrough.
All things are possible with You.
You are the God who moves mountains.

You make all things, holding life and matter in Your hands.
Nothing exists apart from You.
Nothing can be created apart from You.

You take a dream, a word, and a breath and release them into something living and dancing before You.
You laugh.
You dance with Your creation.

You and that which You formed laughing and dancing together.
In a snowy wood that You created.
You, Adonai, are the only One.
There is none but You.
Everything submits to Your Name.
I thank You for every breakthrough You have brought. My past. My present. My future.
I thank You for the breakthroughs that I don’t always have faith for, but You do.
I thank You that I can be like the snow dancing in the woods.

I know that when I land, I land on soft snowdrifts that just keep getting bigger.

Rising up. One flake, two. Fluttering. Dancing. Falling. Building into mountains.
Things only God could dream of.
And I’m part of Your mighty mountain.
I’m mesmerised by Your beauty, O Lord.
I’m captivated by Your power and might.
I’m undone by Your majesty, Ruler of the Universe.
I’m swept up in Your Tremendous Love.
Thank You that You are You, and that I am me.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Shabbas

It's Shabbas in Jerusalem.

This one in particular feels like Christmas. There's a chill in the air for the first time since February. The frankincense in my candle burner fills the apartment with richness. I'm snuggled in an oatmeal sweater I bought at the Fremont three weeks ago during a Seattle cold spell. Seattle shores, Maine rugged coastline, New York City and farm towns. So much stimulation for my senses and heart, in my recent whirlwind Stateside visit. Now, back in this beautiful Holyland, after the bustle of Rosh Hashanah has just passed by like a boisterously wonderful parade on a rainy day. I'm filled with traces of nostalgia for everywhere and nowhere all at once. My senses awakened to old familiars long forgotten. 

And this Shabbat, alone and very quiet, makes me want to instinctively grab for the phone, the laptop, any distraction from the silence. I was surrounded day and night with family and friends from the east to the west of America. And now, in that sudden wake, this new stillness feels very still. Solitary. 

We were, indeed, built for company. Our Creator did not make us to be so quiet and hidden. In fact, He made us so that He would have a family. He is driven by relationship in everything He does. Why is it that we mortals strive so hard to make for ourselves large sandcastles to lock ourselves away from the world in, when our souls desperately long for love? We need each other. We live and breath for each other's company.

Shabbat is truly beautiful when shared with those you cherish and God at the center.

Thank you, Adonai, for a holy day of rest. May I learn deeper waters of Shabbat, and please let me be surrounded by those with whom I want to make memories forever.

Amen.