a word from Buddy

Buddy Wood is a dear friend of the family who is currently struggling with cancer. He has a "Caring Bridge" website that he updates us on his "condition" but, even better, he posts "thoughts" from his heart and mind. The following was his thought today. Much better than any thoughts going through my mind and heart at the moment...

"When a life-threatening illness comes into your world there are many voices (medical, financial, estate planning, etc) clamoring to be heard. These voices are important and deserve some attention. But inside the peaceful garrison only one voice reigns supreme – God’s voice. Listening to God first, amidst all the other choices of voices, is a deep desire of my heart. Why? Because I want to continue to delight in the wonder of seeing God at work right in the middle of life-threatening illness.

That’s one reason I love the Hebrew Shema, an ancient confession of faith from the Torah that was offered morning and evening:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

The first word in this passage is “Hear”. This is the Hebrew word “Shema”, from which the statement gets its name. “Shema” means to listen and pay attention to something. The Shema is a great reminder to pay attention to who God is and what He has to say above all other things.

I understand that practicing Jews continue to recite this prayer every morning and evening, customarily covering their eyes with the right hand to avoid distraction and enhance concentration (The Taryag Mitzvos, Kahan, p. 255). This begins and ends each day with a singular focus.

We all live in the midst of a clamoring sea of voices crying out to be heard. The Shema challenges me to listen to the most important voice of all."

Amen!

By the way, if you want to read more from Buddy...go to caringbridge.org, click on "visit a caring bridge site" and type in "BuddyW" in the site name - you'll be blessed!