10.9.15 "Let's start at the very beginning. It's a very fine place to start."

10.16  - "Beineinu Friday Nights" (our first one).  Are you coming?  You are coming right?
Details at the bottom.  
But don't skip the Torah (it's just a little Torah).

B'reishit
Genesis 1:1-6:8

"Let's start at the very beginning.  It's a very fine place to start."  These well known lyrics from "The Sound of Music" aren't refering to Torah.  But, that's exactly what's about to happen.  This Shabbat we begin reading the Torah from the very beginning.  We start wtih the story of creation affirming humanity's unique partnership with God.  If you haven't ever read it all the way through, you should.  Put down whatever you are doing.  Google "Genesis 1:1-6:8" and read the entire portion.  

What?  You don't have time right now?  You are busy with something really important?

Well, promise yourself, that you will read it by Sunday evening.  That's doable right?  

If you can't read the entire portion, just read the stories of creation.  That's right.  There is more than one.  There are actually two creation stories.  What's the difference?  Here's a clue; the order of creation is different from story to story. 

God is busy, really busy filling the world with "stuff".  There is heaven and earth.  Water and land.  Sun, moon and stars.  Day and night.  Birds.  Cattle.  Trees.  And so much more.  In fact, God creates so much "stuff" that after only six days of work, God ceases to create FOREVER.  That's right.  God spends six days creating and then leaves it all in our hands.  God puts humanity in charge of EVERYTHING.  That's right.  We are the boss of everything.  We are the "Big Man on Campus".  The Chief.  That's us.  This responsibility and privilege was given to all humanity  God's breath was our first breath.  

God spent six days creating the foundation of everything we would need to carry creation forward.  God put things in motion and since day eight, it's been up to humanity to decide what comes next.

That's the question.  What will be next?  What will each of us do with our personal God breath?  My teacher, Rabbi Levi Lauer, with his hands raised said; "If God has hands today, these are his hands."  Pointing to his own lips, "If God has a mouth.  This is God's mouth."  "If God has a heart.  This is God's heart."  You get the idea.

What will we do with our own personal God breath?  What will we do with all that power? God gave us breath.  God gave us power.  What we choose to do is up to us.  

If God has power, WE are God's power.

Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into the Shabbat, move into the very beginning, may we have the courage to claim our personal God breath, to claim our power.

Shabbat shalom,
Laurie