Dear Haverim:
This past Shabbat, some of you commented
that you wanted a copy of the brief Shabbat visualization meditation I led you
through. So here it is. I began by having each of you close your eyes
and focus on your breathing. If you knew
Hebrew, I asked you to imagine the three letters of the word, Shabbat, shin,
bet and tav. I asked you to inhale
deeply on SHA and exhale on BAT. When
you had stilled yourselves, focusing on your breathing, I read the following in
a quiet, comforting voice:
The Good Ship Shabbat
By Rabbi Brad Artson
Every Jew is invited to
a weekly cruise. All embark on a Friday night. Once on ship, there is no need
to work -- since all the preparations are already complete. Instead, the
voyagers can finally focus on refreshing their tired spirits, their strained
hearts and their distracted minds.
An opening service
involves thanking the Captain and crew, through poetry, song and discussion,
for preparing such a restful and pleasant voyage. A lavish dinner follows --
complete with beautiful candlelight, sparkling wine and a bread so rich it
tastes like cake. People retire early for private time and for restful slumber.
The next morning, the voyagers gather for a light breakfast, and then spend the
morning together, reading and thinking about their goals in life, where they've
come so far, what their history has taught them, and what kind of people they
want to be.
At noon, another festive
meal, no less wonderful than last night's dinner, is served. In the afternoon,
some walk the deck, some play ball, some read, while others sleep. At the end
of the day, as the cruise returns to shore, all gather for a candle-lighting
ceremony and farewell. Renewed and energized, the participants are able to face
the new week with anticipation and zeal.
Such a cruise is available to you each week, and
has been departing every Friday night for more than 3,000 years. The good ship
Shabbat is as seaworthy as ever; all it needs is passengers -- no advance
reservations required. All aboard!
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