Christian Reflection and Prayer

(Here is a the final thought from Rabbi
Eckstein from a meditation entitled
"A Cloud or a Dove".  I think it is a great
thought.)

Scripture:

Who are these that fly along like clouds, like
doves to their nests?" —Isaiah 60:8

You don’t need to be Jewish to have a promised
land. Everyone has an ideal place that they can
get to in their lifetime — and it is more likely a
spiritual space than a physical one. And they
will get there in one of two ways. Some people
will be pushed there by the storms in life, or
some can choose to go peacefully on their own.

I know which I prefer. How about you?

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Christian Logic

A college student was in a philosophy class
which had a discussion about God's existence.
The professor presented the following logic:

"Has anyone in this class heard God?"
Nobody spoke.
"Has anyone in this class touched God?"
Again, nobody spoke.
"Has anyone in this class seen God?"
When nobody spoke for the third time, he
simply stated, "Then there is no God."

One student thought for a second, and then
asked for permission to reply. Curious to hear
this bold student's response, the professor
granted it, and the student stood up and
asked the following questions of his classmates:

"Has anyone in this class heard our professor's
brain?"  Silence.
"Has anyone in this class touched our professor's
brain?" Absolute silence.
"Has anyone in this class seen our professor's
brain?" When nobody in the class dared to speak,
the student concluded, "Then, according to our
professor's logic, it must be true that our professor
has no brain!"

...The student received an "A" in the class.

GodVine

Scripture:

"I slept but my heart was awake.
    Listen! My beloved is knocking:
‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
    my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the
night.’" —Song of Solomon 5:2

Reflection:

How do you respond when God comes
knocking on your door? Do you get up
and let Him in? Do you make the changes
that you are inspired to make? Sadly, the
woman in the Song of Solomon hesitates.
She has just gotten into bed and she
doesn’t want to dirty her feet. Eventually,
she decides that getting her feet dusty is
a small price to pay for the gift of seeing
the love of her life, but by the time she gets
to the door, he is already gone.“I opened
for my beloved, but my beloved had left;
he was gone. My heart sank at his
departure” (Song of Solomon 5:6). A
moment’s hesitation can lead to a lifetime
of regret.

Don’t be that woman. When God pays you
a visit — when you get a flash of inspiration
or you are suddenly clear about your path in
life — don’t think it over too much. When
God is at your doorstep, let Him in! Let Him
into your life and let Him change your life.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein