Sunday, December 9, 2007

Sim Shalom: Accepting Life On Life's Terms

We end every Shemona Esray with Sim Shalom or Shalom Rav. While the authors of the Shemona Esray had their own reasons for inserting the prayer for peace at the end, I relate to it as a way to come to terms with life as it is. Prayer seems so much about changing life. I put my order in and wait see what I get. Change is at the opposite end of acceptance and the embrace of the here and now. So after I’ve asked for all sorts of changes in my life, I now ask to be complete with life as it is. I asked for more money and now I ask for help with making peace with my financial situation as it is.

That’s the wisdom of Sim Shalom and its placement.

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