Podcasts religion From the Bimah: Jewish Lessons for Life Pushed and Pulled with Rabbi Wes Gardenswartz

Pushed and Pulled with Rabbi Wes Gardenswartz

Published: May 18, 2019, 4 p.m.

There is a preacher named T.D. Jakes, the pastor of a non-denominational megachurch in Dallas, who saw something in the book of Deuteronomy that I had never seen.   It comes from Moses’ poetic speech in parshat haazinu, in which Moses observes nesher yair kino, a mother eagle stirs its baby eagles who are happily at rest in their nest.  This is the climax of Moses’ life. This is the end of the Torah.  This is Moses’ closing argument. Why is he talking about nests?

Pastor Jakes’ answer is that while nests are comfortable, that baby eagle cannot soar until it leaves the nest.  This is not only a problem for baby eagles. It is a problem for all of us.

We love our nests.  We love our safe spaces. We love our comfort zone.  But comfortable can become too comfortable. Familiar can become too familiar. Safe and secure can become too safe and secure in ways that prevent us from soaring, from becoming who we are meant to become.

Follow this link to view the sermon on our website  https://www.templeemanuel.com/rabbi/rabbi-wes-gardenswartz/pushed-and-pulled/