Vayera
Are we willing to lean in and receive the message?
Reflection by Ariel Yisraelah Hendelman, the Or HaLev Team:
וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה, בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא; וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח-הָאֹהֶל, כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם. וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו, וַיַּרְא, וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים, נִצָּבִים עָלָיו; וַיַּרְא, וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ, אָרְצָה
Hashem appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot. Looking up, he saw three figures standing near him. Perceiving this, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and bowed to the ground (Bereshit 18:1-2)
"Vayera begins with a description of YHVH appearing to Avraham, who is sitting at the entrance of his tent. Avraham lifted his eyes, and beheld three beings approaching the tent. Avraham runs to meet them and bows down low to the earth.
Midrash describes the three beings who walk by Avraham and Sarah’s tent as angels or Divine messengers. Avraham invites them in, washes their feet (a Biblical sign of a good host), and asks if they’ll stay for a meal. Avraham and Sarah then receive a message from these angels that they will have a son, despite their advanced age. Sarah laughs at this news, finding it hard to believe that such a thing could come to pass.
How do we receive a Divine message - expected or unexpected, pleasant or unpleasant - when it comes?
We follow the lead of Avraham. When something enters our awareness, be it an uncomfortable feeling or resonant lyrics to a song on the radio, we first raise our eyes, expanding our perspective in order to recognize the possibility of a Divine message. Next, we bow down, humbling ourselves and remembering that we are not in control, that the more we can give ourselves over to something larger - a bigger picture, a wordless story, the Great Beloved Mystery - the more able we will be to actually receive the message when it comes. Then, we open our tents, welcoming whatever form it takes as a guest, treating it with respect and compassion. Then, we listen for the message that may be surprising, shocking, even delightful. Whatever it is, we have to be willing to lean in and receive it. It may be an announcement of new life, or it may be a life renewed, an opportunity birthed by the very process of opening our tents to these Divine messengers in the first place."