How do you measure—measure a year?
It is a question that comes up a few times for the Jewish people. Certainly discussed at Rosh Hashana, the birthday of the world, and around this season, the secular new year. So…in the famous words from the musical Rent, “How do you measure a year in the life?”
The song gives a few answers. “In daylights-in sunsets, in midnights-in cups of coffee. In inches-in miles, in laughter-in strife.” And it’s true. Go through your Facebook posts, emails, pictures or mental memories. A year is made of trivialities: standing in line at Starbucks and Coffee Bean, dropping off the kids at school, doing the laundry, roaming through traffic, watching the evening news and starting all over again. And a year is made of shock and trauma: personal tragedy, global terrorism, religious and political changes, illness and death.
But the lyrics of the song remind us that while we may concentrate on failings, mistakes, lost opportunities, or days of depression, we must end a year and start a year focusing on something incredibly important:
How about love
How about love
How about love
Measure in love
Seasons of love
Seasons of love
A year should be measured most by seasons of love.
So count out your moments of loves. Honor the unconditional smiles. Respect the acts of kindness. The unsolicited hugs and kisses. The occasions that remind you someone cares.
The Torah urges us to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might.
So begin 2017 with a passionate, vibrant, fierce will to carry love through the seconds, hours, days, and months of next year. And for now…cherish the love of 2016…it is there, acknowledge it and hold it close.
Shabbat Shalom, Happy Channukah, Hodesh Tov and Happy New Year
