baruch

Yom Kippur
that I don’t fully understand
but that is happening
now
sunset Friday
to nightfall
Saturday
(which is today)
and this year
no doubt
there will be praying for the closeness
of God
upon the hostages
held by Hamas
and not by the Palestinian people
generally

the day is for repentance
to ask forgiveness of
the Lord
so that we might be restored
and reconciled

but something I’ve been told is that
the day before
Erev Yom Kippur
is a day for asking forgiveness
of each other

we forgive each other
and then
we may ask forgiveness of God

ten days for repentance
actually
between Rosh Hashanah and
now

the Christian doctrinal story
is about
leaving one’s gift before the altar
to go
make up with one’s sibling
(should
there be conflict)
and thus being
truly
prepared
even according to priorities
to go to
present at the altar
to have time
with the Lord
and be open to fullest forgiveness

forgive each other first
then ask
forgiveness of God
I think that’s how the teaching goes
in two traditions
maybe more
I don’t
know
I could be wrong
of course

But might God bless
the devout
on Yom Kippur
and
direct us all toward
reconciliation

c l couch


photo by Jeanne Rouillard on Unsplash