Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Counting the Omer Day 36 - 5 weeks, 1 day

Today is Chesed she b'Yesod - a day of loving kindness in a week of foundation.
The many transitions we're going through at my synagogue have me thinking once again about the roles and methods of leadership in a spiritual community.
How do you tailor programs to meet each member's specific needs--when those needs are incredibly divergent and at times, at cross purposes?

How do you meet everyone where they are--when they're in so many different places?

How do you treat everyone, always, with respect and compassion, using the guidance of sacred scripture--when there are those who take advantage of the respect given and consistently cross boundaries, concerned only with themselves?

How do you run a service-based business where success is dependent on the state of your customers' hearts and souls?
I've experienced enough of these types of dilemmas to know the challenges they present, but also know the joys when the challenges are met. That is what keeps me on this path to...well, wherever it is my calling is taking me. The days of chesed, gevurah, tiferet, netzach, hod, yesod, and malchut that we will pour into this week of yesod -foundation embody the tools we have at our disposal to make our spiritual communities viable--places where we support and sustain each other.

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