hazzan Diana Brewer was ordained through the aleph ordination program. she leads prayer services regularly at the jewish community of amherst, and is on the staff of the davvenen leadership training institute.

Omer Day 23 גהורה שבנצח Gevurah SheBeNetzach

Strength. Discipline. Discernment within Eternity. Active Force. Endurance. Day-to-Day.

As my inspiration for tonight's writing settles in, it leaves me feeling hopeful that if I keep talking a gentle variety of Gevurah, I will begin to embody and integrate that approach more and more within myself. So, what's today's gentle take?

It strikes me that Endurance of any sort requires more than one variety of Discipline. In this case I am thinking of the Discipline of pacing oneself. Marathon runners, unlike sprinters, do not give everything they have right out of the gate. Who could last 26 miles at that rate? (Most of us can't last 26 miles at any rate...)

To remain an Active Force, we have to retain sufficient energy reserves. There must be Discernment around how we expend, and it takes Strength to hold back. Sure, that kind of Discipline can be tough, but it is ultimately a gentler means to the end game. Plenty of times there is not even a particular end game. I'm fond of noting that life is a lifelong process.

Today may you be blessed with the Strength to hold back, that you may continue on. May you be blessed with the vision to clearly Discern the difference between that which needs to be done and that which wants to be done, that your Day-to-Day not overwhelm.

Omer Day 24 תפארת שבנצח Tiferet SheBeNetzach

Omer Day 22 חסד דבנצח Chesed SheBeNetzach