In Ancient Footsteps - Elul 2009 - Day 10 beginning at Sunset

Empowering the Believer with Biblical Answers
for the Spirit, Soul & Body

Today it is about 'letting' go...

If you have ever watched any of the Indiana Jones movies, do you remember the one about the Holy Grail? I always think of this movie when I need to 'step out in faith'. Indy had to 'take a step of faith' from one side of the cliff to the other in order to retrieve the Holy Grail - there appeared to be no way between the two mountainside and the only way across was down. But the 'book' said to take a 'step of faith' ... and so he closed his eyes, clutched the little black book to his chest and stepped out ... only to find instead of plummeting to the dagger like rocks below, an invisible path appeared as his foot touched down! So too is our own walk in many ways.

Many times we stand at the edge of the cliff...clutching the 'book' and repeating over and over to ourselves "I believe, I believe, I believe". But we slowly and carefully raise just a tiny bit of our tightly shut eyelids and sneak a little glimpse of what we think lies ahead. We see the impossible and we quickly shut our eyes, and slowly...ever so slowly, take a tiny step backwards as we carefully inch our way back from the sure death that awaits us! We cringe inside as we repeat those words, I believe, and make some silly sounding excuse to ourselves so that we can justify not taking that step of faith. How many times has it happened? Surely I'm not the only one on planet earth that has backed up from the edge of the precipice only to find out that someone a minute later reached out and touched the other side! And then the words hit like a ton of bricks, "Oh ye of little faith!".

This is the time of the season when we can take that leap of faith in full confidence that He who searches our thoughts, He who keeps us in the palm of His Hand, He who knows all things - will be there to guide us if we just but take that first step. He is the one who said, 'Knock and it shall be opened', 'Seek and you shall find'. Many will sit on their hands, pray a little prayer and wait for Yahweh to open the doors, will pause until the treasure shows itself; however, that is never the way it has been since the beginning. He has left the decision of free will up to us - it is you and I that must seek, each one of us must get up and open the door, every single person must 'jump' off the edge of the diving board before it is possible to swim.

So don't delay, don't waste another day, another hour - even another minute! Get up out of your comfort zone, take that first step and He will be faithful and true to direct your path!

Ask yourself this - what have you been waiting on that you know you are to take a first step to do? Write down in your journal three steps that would enable you to be able to take that first step. Who can you trust to help you in that first step? Make plans now to take that leap of faith and promise yourself you will trust in Him to take care of the rest!

A few interesting tidbits about food in the Fall Festivals 

POMEGRANATE
Every pomegranate, it is said, contains exactly 613 seeds, precisely the number of mitzvoth, Biblical commandments Jews are obliged to fulfill. As they eat this fruit, Sephardim pray that their lives during the coming year will be filled with as many good deeds as the pomegranate has seeds.
In the coming year, may we be rich and replete with acts inspired by religion and piety as this pomegranate is rich and replete with seeds.

APPLE DIPPED IN HONEY
The apple's roundness symbolizes a hope that the New Year will be joyous from the beginning until it goes full circle. Dipping an apple in honey expresses a wish for a sweet New Year.
May it be Thy will, Lord our God, God of our father, to grant us a year from the first day to the last, goodly as the apple and sweet as honey. "And Nehemiah said to them, go, eat rich dainties and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to him to has nothing ready, for today is holy to our Lord. Grieve not, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

PUMPKIN OR GOURD
Food made with pumpkin is served to express the hope that as this vegetable has been protected by a thick covering, God will protect us and gird us with strength. The Hebrew word for pumpkin or gourd is "kraa". Sephardim pun on this and say "yikaru lefanekha z'khuyoteinu," May our good deeds be called out before the Lord at the time of judgment.
"May the coming year grow as a gourd in fullness of blessing. In the year to come, if enemies gird at us, mayest Thou guard us as we eat of this gourd with the prayer: Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who createst the fruit of the earth."

Combine cucumbers, fennel, onion, oranges and watercress in large
shallow bowl. Whisk together vinegar, orange juice, honey and olive oil.
Toss with salad.

Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and pine nuts.