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There’s an old Jewish tale that goes like this: The rabbi of the Ukrainian town of Berdichev once saw a man hurrying along the street. He was a person with a purpose. He didn’t look to the right and he didn’t look to the left. No time for such.
“Why are you in such a rush?” the rabbi asked him.
“I’m rushing after my livelihood,” the man answered, pausing oh so briefly to be polite.
“And how do you know your livelihood is running on before you so that you have to rush after it?” the rabbi persisted. “Perhaps,” he added, “it’s behind you, and all you need to do is stand still.”
Ah, but it’s the standing still that’s so hard, isn’t it? We often feel like the White Rabbit in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland: “I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date.” And then we’re late for the next date, and the one after that. We just never seem to catch up.
But life isn’t always about getting to the date on time, or dashing headlong to earn our livelihood. Sometimes life is at its best when we pause, catch our breath, remember, and reflect. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), the Giver of life prescribes. “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19), the Savior of life requests of us.
Remembrance. Remembering a cross. Reflecting on the death that brings life, the sacrifice that spells salvation, the gift that means more than livelihood.
So for the next few moments we will not be in a hurry. We will not worry about our bills or our jobs. We will not fret about missed appointments or frantic schedules.
We will be still and know that he is God
We will give thanks for the Savior of life.
We will remember and reflect.
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