The God Squad: More bedtime stories without the fear of death

Rabbi Marc Gellman, Tribune Content Agency on May 11, 2023

The other areas that truthful prayer can explore with great value are repentance, awe, and gratitude.

Prayers of repentance remind us that we are responsible to do better and are accountable when we fall short.

One of my favorite bedtime prayers as I fall asleep is to remind myself of something awesome that I have seen or experienced during the day that is coming to conclusion. It’s so easy to overlook the moments of awe and wonder that are sprinkled through our days like God’s diamonds.

My most favorite object of bedtime prayers are just two words: thank you. As I have quoted many times in this column, the medieval Christian mystic Meister Eckhart reminds us all that if the only prayer we ever say is thank you, it will be enough.

The hardest task in the pursuit of truth is combating the idea that there is no such thing as truth but merely an endless list of personal opinions with no truth to anchor them. This is called ethical relativism. That would leave us like a survivor on a deserted island. The greatest decision in our lives is the decision that some things are absolutely true. If that decision is not made with all the conviction of our soul, then our lives are empty and bereft.

To return to your wonderful connection between prayer and truth from Kenya brings us to an abundant number of contemporary issues. Many times we are challenged with new information that is difficult. Taking a deep breath and stretching ourselves to accommodate our changing world, our health, or our beliefs indeed requires courage. We have all experienced the lack of clarity from half-truths. When we are confronted with information that doesn’t appear to sit right with us we need the strength and fortitude to pursue the whole of the truth. And then, as always, we pray for the humility to understand that each of us will never possess the whole of all the truth, but we can always hope that we will be introduced to the truth eventually.

This is God’s promise through the prophet Isaiah, “That which had not been told to them they shall see, and that which they have not heard, they shall understand.” (Isaiah 52:15)

(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available.)