The commandment for the king to write a copy of the Torah demonstrates the work of Messiah. He Himself is the Word made flesh. He is the copy of the Torah in human form. Furthermore, He writes a copy of the Torah as He writes the Torah upon our hearts. The Torah of King Messiah is written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). Section is found in Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:0.
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And Down The Stretch We COme!
Today….right now…..it is the new moon of the month of Elul. It is the start of what is called the 40 days of Teshuvah.
I was 22 years of age when I was introduced to God. I was at one of my lowest points in my life; Confused, Lost, Feeling Hopeless and Helpless.
Someone took me aside and took me outside on a beautiful November day in New York. It was warm for November, the sun was shining and the last leaves on the trees were ready to fall. This person asked me if I “believed” in God. I said I was not sure. I told him I wanted to but I had no clue. He pointed out to me how everything around us was in perfect harmony and for a brief moment I saw it! It was a fleeting moment but I saw it and I felt it and I knew it. I saw the creative intelligence behind everything…….even my suffering.
Well…..since that time, I have been on a journey seeking this creative intelligence for answers and for direction. It has certainly been a roller coaster ride and a lot of the time I seemed to live in the world of forgetfulness.
Today, I am turning back. Today, I am re-turning to this “Force of Creativity.” The King is in the Field……..
Re’eh
The reading is found in Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17. You shall not hesitate to give, nor murmur when you do give; because you shall know who is the good repayer of the hire. You shall not turn away from him that is in want, but you shall share all things with your brother, and shall not say that they are your own; for if you are partakers in that which is immortal, how much more in things which are mortal? (Didache 4:7-8)
Re’eh means to see. This portion is about vision. What is “real vision?”
Ekev
The forty-sixth reading from the Torah and the third reading from the book of Deuteronomy is named Ekev(עקב), a word from the first verse of the portion. Deuteronomy 7:12 says, “Then it shall come about, because (ekev, עקב) you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you His covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers.” Usually the word ekev means “heel.” In fact, this word shares the same three-letter root as the name Jacob (Yaakov, יעקב), whose name actually means “heel.” He was born holding on to Esau’s heel. However, in Deuteronomy 7:12, the word ekev means “on the heels of” or “because of.” This portion of Deuteronomy speaks of the rewards that will come to Israel on the heels of keeping God’s covenant and commandments.
This past week it feel like we have turned the corner. The next seven weeks leading up to the high holidays in September are preparation and consolation for the suffering the nation of Israel has endured through its journey in the wilderness the past 40 years. Remember, the story is one of liberation from slavery/bondage. Look for the metaphor in your life. What is keeping you stuck?
Field Manual
For those of you who engage with The Way Seekers Group in our Final Phase Inquiry Please Read this……..
The final 5th phase in the process. STOP. I use the word final but that is not an accurate description. Yet, it does awaken us to the opportunity that there is, in fact, a destination, an ending, or at least, a “Way Point.”
As your guide, I think we need a field manual to traverse the territory we find ourselves in the this phase.
I think a lot of people skip over this step in their journey. The territory in the first four phases is unfolding. However, in this phase it is done, complete, over, full………It is the “product” of all our inquiry. This phase is qualitatively different. Movement STOPS. We are “moving into stillness here.”
If you “get” the subject-object analogy we have discussed in the past then you understand that in Phases 1-4 we are immersed as subject and now, in phase 5, we turn subject into object; We become the witness and are able to “view” all that has preceded from a higher point from when we started.
So, what is a field manual. I did some research on finding a purpose/meaning and I got this:
The field manual is a set of simple instructions that enables us to take extreme ownership even in the most extreme, chaotic, and unpredictable situations. It allows us to confront our personal landmines and avoid ambushes challenging our mission.
The field manual effectively, bullet points what we have learned so far and a to do list of to do’s for when we choose to cycle forward into our next “Phase 1 ” experience. REMEMBER, one of the descriptions of phase one is that it is called CONFUSION: CHAOS
You have heard of the saying…….”Order out of Chaos. ” Prepositions matter!.. I suggest looking at the situation differently. I suggest we look at it as finding “Order in the Chaos.” It is different attitude altogether. Instead of the goal being to turn chaos into order we accept that both are present and will remain present.
A field manual kind of implies military…..right? WAR! BATTLE.
There are 3 Levels of WAR. These 3 levels mirror loosely the three levels of wisdom according to the Buddha. The Three levels are TACTICAL, OPERATIONAL and STRATEGIC. Can you see the metaphor?
In this phase……July 19, 2021 until the end of September 2021 I will be working on developing and publishing this Field Manual.