Awakening to a New Reality
I once had to be at the train station in Paris at 5:00 a.m. The place was a hullabaloo of businessmen, running to and fro, from platform to platform, in an effort to make their train on time for work. Diligent women held handbags or briefcases and rushed toward their respective trains. Teenagers hurried to their schools, and there were even some youngsters thrown in for added drama. The frenzy of the place was more fitting for 5:00 p.m., not 5:00 a.m. I was quite surprised at such signs of life at this unearthly hour.
If so many people are capable of awakening so early for the sake of work and school, in spite of a probable late night, how can a Jew find it so hard to open his eyes for prayer before setting off to his daily business?
It would be beneficial to stop the treadmill of life and take a few moments to thank Hashem for the neshamah which was returned to him. Afterward, he should pray for the new day, asking for it to pass without incident. In this manner, he will be worthy of Hashem’s blessing.
