Daily Prophets
Day 36
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him.”(Hosea 14:5)
These words of God through Hosea are startling, hopeful, loving, kind and compassionate. They embody the relationship that God has with us humans and they teach us how to be in relationship with others. The prophet is telling us that once we begin to return as I wrote about yesterday, God is going to meet us more than halfway.
God telling us that God will heal our backsliding is an acknowledgement of our imperfection and that God doesn’t expect nor demand our perfection, rather, God desires our constant turning towards God. Healing our backsliding is not a statement that we will be fixed, rather, I believe, a reminder that we are a constant work in progress.
God’s love is unconditional. The second part of this verse is proof of this. What is unconditional love? It is always wanting and welcoming us back when we backslide. I am in awe of God’s compassion and forgiveness. No matter what we have done, according to our sages, the Gates of T’Shuvah (return) are always open as this verse is showing.
The last part of this verse is both the most confusing and hopeful. God, through the Prophet Hosea, switches from the plural to the singular. This didn’t make sense to me the first time I read it and then I read Yoma 86b where Reb Meir uses this verse to show the greatness of repentance; “for one person’s return, the entire world endures”. What an audacious statement, one person has the power to ensure that the world keeps going, and yet I am humbled by the power of each and every one of us.
Hosea is telling us that we are all responsible. Rabbi Heschel’s statement: “In a free society, some are guilty, all are responsible” is ringing in my being. Just as we have to power to destroy the world, each of us has the power and ability to make sure the world endures. To do that, we have to return to God and allow God to heal us and love us.
If only Washington DC would listen to the words of Hosea. While acknowledging the wrongdoings of Donald J Trump, Mitch McConnell allowed him to not have to face his guilt. While God could love Donald J Trump freely, he would have to ask for forgiveness and want to be healed. It is hard to do that when you believe you are the smartest person in the room and the rules don’t apply to you. Mitch McConnell, who allowed his senator majority to excoriate Hillary Clinton after she left office, says Trump and, by extension, other Presidents are above the law- his words do not matter if he actions don’t match them. He has been engaging in double speak for a long time and yesterday-it set the foundation for the demise of our democracy. Senators, God can heal your backsliding if you admit your sins and ask for forgiveness- I doubt that you will, Cruz, Hawley, Kennedy, Johnson, Scott, et.al.
In Recovery, knowing that God is the One who can heal us and God takes us back is a foundational principle. We are not firmly rooted in our recovery until we do our T’Shuvahs/Amends and are welcomed back to our families, communities, and God. God’s welcoming us back, God’s help in healing our character traits that are out of proper measure, God’s visiting compassion and kindness onto those we have harmed so they accept our amends/tshuvah, are necessary parts of our recovery. In fact, I would go so far as to say, we can’t be in Recovery without these gifts from God.
In Recovery, we know that ‘cleaning up our side of the street’ is essential and I can attest to the power of that on the person who is doing the cleaning and the recipient of the cleaning. I have made many T’Shuvahs/Amends in these past 34+ years since I first went to prison the last time. I have been blessed to have a vast majority of them accepted I am sad for the ones that were not accepted and pray for them.
God heals my backsliding each and every time I fall back into old negative behaviors and I am grateful for this. I have come to realize that one way God has healed me is to help me realize my backsliding quicker each time. I also am blessed by God’s love, whenever I start to think I am unlovable, God shows me love, compassion and kindness and I am able to let go of that lie I tell myself.
God’s anger always turns away from me as I turn to God each day. My anger turns away from others, as I turn to God each day as well. My anger also turns from another(s) as they turn towards me. I have never rejected an amend that was offered me in sincerity. My return has fueled and fuels the return of many people, Harriet’s return has fueled and fuels the return of many more people, Beit T’Shuvah’s existence fueled and fuels the return of even more people. How do you allow God to heal your backsliding and how is your return fueling the return of others? Stay Safe and God Bless, Rabbi Mark