By: Cindy Coons
Director of Jewish Explorers & Family Engagement
Can you think of a time when your patience was challenged by frustration, anger, confusion, or exhaustion? Did you rely on someone you trust for guidance, but the challenges of the moment and your state of mind prevented you from heeding their advice? In this week’s Torah portion, Chukat, the Israelites complain about the lack of water and God counsels Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock, which will provide water for the community. However, Moses does not follow God’s counsel. Instead of using words, Moses chooses to strike the rock with his staff, not only once but twice. While the people now have water, God is angry with Moses for not trusting in God’s guidance and punishes Moses by denying him entry into the promised land, a harsh consequence for his lack of patience and judgment.
What if Moses had been curious about why God counseled him to speak words to the rock and had shown more patience in the moment? Imagine if we allowed curiosity to underpin our patience. What would this look like? How would this change the process and how we react?
What if being patient and curious led us to better understand the power of our words? What if Moses understood and had faith in the power of his words? Our words have the power to encourage, inspire, motivate, elevate, heal, and, when not used in thoughtful and kind ways, can also cause pain and harm. The next time we hear grumbling and complaining, as Moses did in this week’s parsha, will we listen with a compassionate ear and share kind and thoughtful words to overcome our “water from the rock” challenge? Or will we lash out and “strike” in harsh and harmful ways?
In these current unimaginable times, we all need a bit more care and kindness extended to us. Imagine if we allowed curiosity and grace to inform our interactions with each other and how different the journey might feel. This Shabbat and in the coming days and months ahead, I encourage us all to embrace curiosity, which will hopefully lead to finding ways of being more patient with and showing grace to those we love and hold dear in our hearts and with ourselves as well. Imagine how transformative our patient and kind words and actions can be in making the world a place where each of us feels seen, heard, and celebrated.
Shabbat Shalom from all of us at JEWISHcolorado!
Please email Cindy Coons at ccoons@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.