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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rabbi Jonathan Romain

Good morning

I had a shock recently - not because of anything untoward, but because someone took me at my word and then acted on it. I was walking down Maidenhead High Street when I saw a member of the synagogue….and my jaw dropped. I’ll call him, Gerry. He was around 25 years old, tall, and had thick black hair. Or, rather, he had thick black hair the last time I’d seen him at a service. Now, he was completely grey. I don’t normally comment on personal appearances, but the difference was so dramatic that I had to do so, and gently mentioned the sudden change.

‘It was your sermon, rabbi!’ Gerry said, ‘You spoke about the pretences we build up and hide behind, and that instead we should be honest both about ourselves and about our relationships with others. Well, I went grey when I was twenty, and was so ashamed that I’ve been dying my hair ever since. But after your words, I decided to accept who I am and what I look like…and I have to tell you, I feel much better for it’.

I’d been completely unaware of that! It shows how a chance remark - be it in a sermon or a one-to-one chat - can inadvertently address a pressing concern that had been gnawing at another person. What we say, and what others hear, can be so different, and maybe the reverse is true, that what’s on our mind can be touched by other people without them having a clue.

But full marks to Gerry for sensing something about himself needed to change, and others, too, whether it’s to stop doing something, or to start something new. And then a chance word makes it clear it really is time to act - and having the courage to actually do so.

So however that moment comes, I ask God’s help to make changes in our lives when we suddenly realise we need to do so, and the moment has come.

Amen