Enlightened

Hello Everyone:

Did I ever mention how much I really want to beat my laptop every now and then?  Or for at matter, my car?  Well I do.  Sorry about stopping mid-thought but I had to take a call.  Anyway, the latest car and laptop problems are more like irritating things than anything else.  The car needs a new battery and the charger on the laptop doesn't seem to light up.  In the case of the computer, I just hope it's not the battery.  Replacing a charger head sounds less expensive than a new battery.  I should check it out.  Before I take the plunge, I should have the geniuses at Apple make sure that's all it is.  I really can't afford expensive repairs.

I've also come down with a case of pre-Yom Kippur doom and and gloom.  Traditional teaching holds that the fate of the world is determined on Yom Kippur.  In fact, Incan attest that in the liturgy of the service, it specifically mentions "who will live, who will die,..."  It's pretty powerful when think that about it.  Some force has already decided what your life will be like for the next year.  Even more powerful is the fact that it could impact your future.  This begs the question, if everything been pre-determined, then why bother.  I suppose the reason to bother is to find out how the story continues.  Will you find fortune, good health, prosperity, and so on.  It sometimes feels like you're screwed because no matter what you do, the outcome has already be determined.  The rabbinical teachings say that through charity, repentance, and prayer, the outcome of your story this can be changed for the better.  Of the three, repentance is the most misunderstood. Typically, it's implied the willingness never, ever to repeat an action again.  It sounds absolute.  You messed up, apologize, and promise never to do it again.  People aren't like that or for that matter, neither is life.  The idea of repentance is the willingness to change for the better.  You're going to make bad choices but, they are your bad choices and hopefully you learn from it.  So as yours truly heads into Yom Kippur, it is with a more enlightened outlook not the usual doom and gloom.  I can't guarantee that I'll develop a case of "when-can-I-eat", but at least I'll be more enlightened.