AM Inspiration

I was sitting on the plane, and just as we touched down..it hit me. A huge overwhelming wave of confusion. I was not thinking about anything in particular. One second I was blissfully thinking of nothing, and then BAM! all these doubts, insecurities uncertainty hit me like a ton of bricks. Pesach is supposed to be a time of redemption. We are commanded to sit and tell over the story of the exodus out of Egypt and we are supposed to feel as if we ourselves left Mitzrayim. We spend weeks cleaning our homes ridding ourselves of physical chometz and as important as that is, it is supposed to symbolize us removing our own personal spiritual chometz. Those behaviors, those habits, those choices that weigh us down...this is the time of year that is infused with that spring cleaning power. We are supposed to have a personal redemption. We know that only 1/5 of the Jews actually left Egypt. The other 4/5 decided that it was too hard to leave. Sure life was uncomfortable...

Its cliche i know..but there is something magical about snow. Maybe its because I am from the South and snow is a rarity there. Maybe its because snow meant no school. Whatever the reason, when i walk outside and inhale that fresh cold air, that smell that can only mean snow..that perfect temperature at which it is cold enough but not too cold for snow..it makes me..how do i put it without sounding too sappy...there is no way. it makes me smile inside. yesterday as i was walking back from shul, it was not yet quite snowing, but you could smell it and last night i was walking in the snow. the white flakes slowly drifting down. the sense of renewal and cleansing that comes from the snow is intoxicating. When it snows, i just want to keep walking, never really wanting to go in. I want to take advantage of every minute. Last night i went to a shiur by Chevi Garfinkle who i absolutely love. She asked a basic question, what is the purpose of life. Many answers have been given. She answer...