Shema

A month ago Emily and I started planning the theme for the fall retreat we will be taking the students on next week. We decided on the name "followers" and we are looking at the Matthew 22: 37-40. Attempting to answer the question what does it mean to be a "follower" of Christ mainly looking at the commands given here in Matthew. This of course led me into some more research of the Shema. I think that a very short summary of this is to love God completely with all your heart, soul, and strength. Basically with everything you have. I was aware of the custom to recite this when one woke up and went to bed and thought this may be really neat to incorporate into our retreat. Then I thought maybe I should start saying it before I go to bed and when I wake up as well. For the past few weeks I have been trying, not always remembering, but trying. It is crazy how refreshing it feels to wake up and the first words out of my mouth say "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might".   A reminder to me to Love God with everything I have in me today. Then to say the same thing we I go to sleep reminding me that this day I should have loved God with everything I have in me. 
Drew