Have you ever seen one of those old quirky films or plays or novels where someone has amnesia and wakes up every day forgetting who they are, needing to be reminded afresh? It makes for a good tragic romantic comedy setup.
This reminds me a whole lot of prayer.
Every morning I wake up groggy, my mind flooded with yesterday’s half-baked stressful thoughts and little sense of my true self. And I am immediately invited to play the reminder clip.
Modeh ani lefanecha Melech chai v’kayam …
“Thank You, living and eternal King, for returning my soul to me with compassion; abundant is Your faithfulness.”
In other words: Hi. This is G-d. Yes, I just placed your soul back into your body. Today is going to be a great day because I believe in you, and I am with you. That spark of life inside of you—it is your soul. It is a piece of Me, My very essence that I placed inside of you. Take good care of it, and it will take good care of you.
The tape continues, showing off all of our faculties that are at our disposal and can so easily go unappreciated.
This is your spinal cord. Enjoy it.
Zokef kefufim—straightening the bent.
Pokeach ivrim—I am opening your eyes.
Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad.
Do not be afraid. I am totally One.
And the way I am above the world—Havayah—is the way I am with you here in this world, Elokeinu. Just as I am transcendent, so are you.
Now, this can be a lot for my brain—which is still trying to register the caffeine I sipped only moments ago—to take in.
But the message is sinking in more and more, and I am starting to remember.
Who I am.
Why I am.
And that there is but One G-d above who loves and cares for me always.
G-d keeps playing the tape.
Next, I am transported into a chamber where I can ask for anything I need.
Health, wealth, friendship—anything at all. All my relationships are brought into their true light, a gift from G-d, something to nurture and cherish. Yes! I remember now!
To know that G-d wants to hear my needs and desires, all of them.
And then I start to ask for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, and it feels familiar.
Oh yes!
The purpose of Creation: a home for G-d in this world.
Moshiach.
A time of total peace and awesomeness and closeness with our Creator.
And now I am fully online, on board, aligned, and clued in to what my day is about.
Say some Psalms and be reminded that “G-d is your shadow,”1 that He is at your right hand, your Rock and your Redeemer.
I am totally protected, seen, guided, and cared for.
I am safe.
Time to leave the morning tape and start the day with some eggs and toast, but not without a blessing to remind me what it’s all about and to give me the awareness I need to stay in a place of connection as I chat with my husband over brunch.
So whatever tests may come, I know there is a loving wink from my Creator:
Remember what we discussed this morning.
I believe in you.
You’ve got this.
I am with you.
And I believe in you one hundred percent.
And if today doesn’t go so great, don’t worry.
We will have a check-in again this afternoon at sunset time—Minchah—and reconnect once more.
One last reminder before bed and some much needed sleep and a soul refresh, I say the Shema, and read “I place my soul into your hands.” G-d has got me, nothing to fear, I can let go and have sweet dreams, and be reminded again tomorrow just how loved I am.
