"Shabbat Shalom"?? ~a blog thought from 02/23/12
"Shabbat Shalom"... words I have recently become very familiar with. At first they were "fun new words", then they became words that "connected" our little "group" together (that we meet with on a regular basis)--because we began to greet one another freely using those words on the Sabbath (Shabbat), and now they have become "personal" words that hold very special meaning to me. 'Shabbat Shalom'... Hebrew words for "Peaceful Sabbath". I am learning the Hebrew language, and it is so exciting to become even more connected to these words and the language they come from!! But, it is more than that. It is "what" the Sabbath--and the peace of the Sabbath-- has come to mean to me. More than a ritual, more than a tradition, and more than a list of "don'ts"... but truly a special "set apart" time from the rest of the week. A time I have come to anticipate and look forward to. A time I have got into the routine of planning for and preparing for. A time I have come to LOVE. Without realizing it, I can see that it has brought a Peace to me and my life. I cherish it. It has become one of my greatest pleasures, one of my *favorite gifts* from YHWH :) And it comes EVERY WEEK!! :)
"Shalom" is Peace, but also More than {only} peace. It IS lack of confusion and lack of chaos and lack of deveastation and despair... but More than all of these. It is wellness, completeness, wholeness... nothing missing, nothing broken, and nothing lacking. It is the presence of YHWH, which is secure and safe and at rest from worry or fear or anger--or any thing that would cause disturbance. PEACE. What a Treasure! Can one put a price on genuine peace? It is beyond money or power or prestige... and it is freely given to all those that fear YHWH and keep HIS commands. What a gift!!! I truly appreciate this gift, and I cherish it with my whole heart. <3
But I don't have to wait until Shabbat to experience Shalom... it is in HIM :) And as I sit quietly in my little home, listening to the clock tick and the keyboard keys click, I can experience Shalom/Peace :) And I *Am*... I hope you are too :)
Shabbat Shalom, my friends~
"Shalom" is Peace, but also More than {only} peace. It IS lack of confusion and lack of chaos and lack of deveastation and despair... but More than all of these. It is wellness, completeness, wholeness... nothing missing, nothing broken, and nothing lacking. It is the presence of YHWH, which is secure and safe and at rest from worry or fear or anger--or any thing that would cause disturbance. PEACE. What a Treasure! Can one put a price on genuine peace? It is beyond money or power or prestige... and it is freely given to all those that fear YHWH and keep HIS commands. What a gift!!! I truly appreciate this gift, and I cherish it with my whole heart. <3
But I don't have to wait until Shabbat to experience Shalom... it is in HIM :) And as I sit quietly in my little home, listening to the clock tick and the keyboard keys click, I can experience Shalom/Peace :) And I *Am*... I hope you are too :)
Shabbat Shalom, my friends~
