Shalom and the Rabbi

The Hebrew language richly conveys feeling, intent, and emotion. Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, is my favorite. It’s used to greet and bid farewell to people, but expresses an all-encompassing peace that is so much more.

Strong’s Concordance defines Shalom as completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord . . . today’s world is in dire need of an infusion of Shalom.

Shalom is displayed on our well house. A few years back it prompted a humorous encounter. Arriving home from town one afternoon, a note with a phone number was on our door, “Please call us.”

I called, and a friendly voice answered, thanking me for calling back. Identifying himself as a rabbi, he explained that he and another rabbi had been exploring the rural environs of the Matanuska Borough seeking fellow Jews to invite to their recently established synagogue in Wasilla, AK. They noticed Shalom on our well house and had left the note on our door.

“Are you Jewish?“, the rabbi asked.

“No,” I politely replied, “but my boss is a Jewish carpenter.”

“Could you give us his name?”, he responded.

“Jesus”, I said with a smile . . . he immediately realized I wasn’t a frozen chosen candidate for his congregation 😊 

Sometime later I met the rabbi at his synagogue’s booth at the Alaska State Fair and we shared smiles together.

Last evening Shalom silently embraced my soul as the Creator placed an effulgent patch of rainbow across the lake to end the day.

Awakening this morning, Shalom’s peace lingered. Stoking up the woodstove and pouring a steaming cup of coffee, I sat astonished beyond comprehension pondering how, despite the self-hatred of my countless past felonious faults, failures and foibles, and those I may make today in the future . . . I’ll forever remain my Abba’s beloved child.

Opening the You Version Bible app, this Shalom tribute formed in my thoughts . . .

S H A L O M

   Serinity

 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Psalm 91:1

 Hope

            “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you            and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” 

Jeremiah 11:29

   Adopted

   “In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.”

Ephesians 1:5

Loved

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

    Overcome

“I have told you these things that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Majesty

“Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary”.

Psalm 68:34

Shalom my friends!

Keep Looking Up . . . His Best is Yet to Come!