Atonement:
Today is Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. Yom Kippur occurs exactly ten days after Rosh Hashannah, the beginning of the Jewish new year. During that ten day period, as the legend goes, the book of life is open. All of us have the the opportunity to make right with our high powers, to apologize for those we feel need apologizing to, to clense ourselves, and promise to lead with the better angels of our nature. Yom Kippur is the last day in this period. We fast as a reminder of the solemnity of the day. At sundown, the book of life is closed.
Each Yom Kippur since 1995, I have spent the day by myself, thinking, writing, reading, praying. Each year, I write one person a letter to whom I feel I owe forgiveness. Mostly, I just try and “Get Good with God” and put myself in a serene spiritual place. But something tells me this year will be different. I’ll let you know at sundown.