Midpoint, not Halftime

היום חמשה ועשרים יום שהם שלשה שבועות בארבעה ימים בעמר
Today is twenty-five days--that is three weeks and  four days--of the omer
נצח שבנצח
A day of perseverance in a week of perseverance

Today marks the halfway point of the count.
We've made it this far,
but the tedium will now start to set in.
The first year I counted on Facebook,
it was around this time that a friend commented:
"How far are you taking this?"
We don't get a halftime break -
it's in the continuation that practice deepens,
supported by this double perseverance day.

A foundation of mindfulness

היום עשרים יום שהם שני שבועות וששה ימים בעמר
Today is twenty days--that is two weeks and six days--of the omer
יסוד שתפארת
A day of foundation in a week of compassion

Don't curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block before the blind,

be in awe of your God

I am Adonai

 -- Lev 19:14

This week we read Kedoshim, a part of the Torah that has many laws, many of which deal directly with how we live in this world with each other. The verse above is one that we read, one that I think we pass over with a "yeah, yeah, I know that."

But take another look, expand your thoughts from the physical manifestations of meaning.

There are many kinds of obstacles--spiritual, psychological, as well as physical. Blocks we put in front of others as well as blocks within ourselves.

And while the deaf may not hear the curses directed at them, words can fly in many directions, heard by many years. The much of the harm can be to the one spraying the curses.

The bottom line-----mindfulness is wonderful constant to have in your life.