Author: Bp. Justin Elwell

Sharing snippets of life with those who happen by. Husband, father, bishop, scholar, hiker, and homesteader. Attempting to build a natural bridge between today and ancient faith-style living. If you didn’t enjoy today’s post, stop back, there’s always something new tomorrow.

Where Unity is Tasted

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn InspirationLeave a comment

I love harmony. It is such a joy to hear the vocal harmonies of our worship team. It is thrilling to hear the oneness of the congregation singing in unity, flowing the prompting of the Spirit of God. But where is unity tasted?

Each week we sing the Sh’ma, Hear of Israel, in communal worship:

שְׁמַע, יִשְׂרָאֵל: יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה אֶחָד

“Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

In most Siddurim (prayer books), the final letter dalet (ד), of the word אֶחָד/echad/one is enlarged. The practice in some congregations is to give greater weight to the word אֶחָד/echad/one, by singing this word with a long breath, and ending it sharply, followed by silence.

It is in this silence, following the singing of אֶחָד/echad/one, that we taste unity in the Spirit. As no one’s voice is louder, or softer, more appealing or less appealing, rather we are ushered into a harmony in silence before the Lord ever so briefly; a silence that draws us deeper into vocal harmony in worship.

It is good to taste the unity of togetherness in silence as we allow the door, dalet (ד), of heaven to open among us.

Be well; Shalom

The Winter of Life

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Inspiration, Uncategorized1 Comment

Winter in many places can be a long and dark season. In the absence of sunlight one day does not seem all that different from the next or the previous.

Winter in many cultures is viewed as an ending, death, or bleak, frigid darkness. Poetically, we speak about our winter years as we grow old. Yet, in Hebrew winter does not carry this connotation. In Job 29:4, we read:

‎כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיִיתִי, בִּימֵי חָרְפִּי
“As I was in the days of my youth.”

The word translated “youth” is חֹרֶף/choreph, meaning autumn and winter, the picture of a gathered crop, but also youth. Why?

Winter in Hebrew isn’t considered a time of ending or, metaphorically, death; but of renewal, growth, and preparation. Life is still happening, and new life is developing beneath that snowy frozen ground; life, we cannot as of yet see, but is still active.

Whatever your condition this winter season, as difficult and different as it is this year, meditate on scriptures of renewal, and know that He is renewing you even while you appear frozen in place. Focus not on death or growing old, but on renewal.

Suggestions:

Isaiah 40:30-31
Psalm 1
Psalm 23
Psalm 51:10-12
II Corinthians 4:16
II Corinthians 5:17
Colossians 3:9-10

Be well. Shalom.

What You Do With Your Breath

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn InspirationLeave a comment

What You Do With Your Breath.

What you do with your breath, you do with your soul, and thus, your body.

In Hebrew נְשָׁמָה/neshamah/soul is from נְשִׁימָה/neshimah/breath, which is derived from the verb root נָשַׁם/nasham/to breathe.

In Psalm 150:6 we read:

‎כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ

This is often translated as, “Let every thing that draws breath praise the Lord; Hallelujah!” Yet, based on the definitions above, it might also read more clearly, “Let every soul praise the Lord; Hallelujah.”

There is a deep connection between breath and soul, as soul fills the body and breath enlivens it. The sages teach that from Psalm 150:6 we learn that with every breath, and with our body/soul, we should praise Him, not necessarily in flamboyant songs of praise, but with the obedient life, as Paul expresses, a “living sacrifice.”

Then every breath becomes praise, and the soul/body/life, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, becomes a habitation of worship in living, in song, and in every moment.

How much more then, should we thank Him for breath, in breathing, and with a body/soul immersed in faith. Holistic, all encompassing, worship.

Be well. Shalom.