Today is the 9th day of the counting of the Omer, Gevurah shel Gevurah, strength of strength, discipline of discipline.
This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. It always marks my return to running. 10 years ago I was sitting on the couch next to my daughter. As I often said, “I just want to run one more.” She had never seen me do one. It seemed like a dream. I had five Bostons to my credit but I hadn’t run in years. I had had a serious car accident in 2007 and at the time people were not sure I could walk, let alone run again. She, the wise one, said, “OK I get that, but maybe you should start with a shorter race.” She had heard about the Disney Princess race series and maybe I could do the half and she would do it with me. We agreed to sign up. Later that day the bombs went off. That sealed it. Boston Strong.
My good friend Beryl heard an article on NPR—I haven’t been able to find it exactly. Because this is the 10th anniversary there has been a lot of coverage. Her synopsis. Running is a discipline. It certainly is for me. It is even a spiritual discipline. There is something about the rhythm that certainly works for me. Often when I am running I sing our prayers. “V’tahar libeinu, Cleanse our hearts to serve You in truth,” always works well for me. Something about cleansing our hearts given family history of heart disease is especially meaningful.
There are days when I don’t want to run. I’m too tired. It’s too cold. The weather isn’t conducive. That’s when the discipline kicks in.
When I asked what examples people have of discipline there were not many answers. One person said that it is her discipline to always answer her phone and to answer emails within two hours. No one seemed to have an exercise discipline. This surprised me.
Discipline is interesting. Much of our ritual practice is set up as a discipline. It provides structure, limits and meaning. It is part of how we draw closer to God, which is much of what Judaism is about.
Rabbi Nehemia Polen, a professor at Hebrew College in Boston and my professor for Leviticus, used to talk about the discipline of the sacrifices in the Holy Temple, one in the morning and one in the evening. He likened it as what many of us do with medications, one in the morning and one in the evening. Definitely a discipline. Simon is really good about washing the sheets on Thursdays. It is part of how he prepares for Shabbat. For him it is a discipline.
When I daven the silent on Amidah as part of Kabbalat Shabbat, when we get to the Modim Anachnu Lach prayer, I try to think of things I am thankful for this week. That’s called kavanah, intention, praying beyond the words in the book. Some weeks, like this one, are easy. Sometimes I argue with myself to find just one thing. Living a life of gratitude is good for our mental health. It is also a discipline.
This year we are using three books to help us with our counting of the omer, again, a discipline. Omer, a Counting by Rabbi Karyn Kedar quotes Rabbi Rami Shapiro from The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness Preparing to Practice, on Day 9. He says, “We often say the right thing, and then find ourselves resenting it. Talk is cheap, however; our behavior is what really defines us. Listen carefully to your speech; say only what your mean and do everything you say. [This is the talk the talk and walk the walk comment] This requires you to slow down your normal pace of communication. So often we just talk to talk. We say things for the sake of saying things. We exaggerate to ake what we say more interesting. We promise things before we hav determined whether or not we can fulill the promise. Ask yourself three questions before you speak:
- Is it true.
- Is it kind.
- Is it necessary.”
These words themselves ring true. They require discipline. A tremendous amount of discipline. Discipline of discipline. They lead to strength. Meanwhile, I’ll keep running. Let us all live with exactly these kinds of spiritual disciplines.