I was walking around the park..

I was walking around the park, as I do many mornings, and nearing the lake.  It is as I come to the lake that I often pause for prayer while taking in the sun glinting on the water, and offer the words, "modah ani lifanekha, ruakh chai v'kayam...". I give thanks before You, Spirit that lives and endures...

Before I reached the lake on one particular morning, a man passed me, running, and shouting out prayers in what I perceived as a Pentacostal Christian mode. I started to laugh or inwardly mock him - and then had to stop and laugh at myself instead.  Wasn't I about to sing a prayer to God giving thanks for the morning and the lake and the sun?  And just because his prayer included more shouted "Glory be!" were we really that different as we approached the day?

I smiled at the realization, stopped my critical thought and started my prayer.

Happy Elul