What are YOU doing here?!

This week my family and I am blessed to have 15 amazing friends visiting us for Shabbat, some of whom are university students on vacation from the USA, some of whom are American-Israeli soldiers on leave, some of whom are students in Israel, and some of whom are new friends we are meeting for the first time.  But regretfully, the prep-demands have precluded my being able to record this week's shu-shine in time, although I do hope to send it out as a "shu-shine: afterglow" early next week.  There is so much to share regarding this weeks Torah portion! In the meantime, I am resending last years shu-shine, along with all my blessings to all for a beautiful and restful Shabbat. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sometimes, in those quietest of moments, we each wonder what we are doing here.  Does my life matter?  Do I have a mission here?  Am I truly unique and essential to the world? And sometimes, when we look back at the choices we have made, we wonder if we haven't somehow "messed up too badly".  Maybe I have really screwed up, and now whatever I was here for is lost to me?  Maybe I am 'beyond salvation'?  Maybe I am simply too stained, or too far gone, to still have the chance to brining my gifts to the world? But as you are sitting here reading these words before you, you are indeed still here.  And the reason that you are still here, is because the reason that you are here -- what you were born to do -- still lies ahead of you! Attached please find a Shu-Shine for the Torah portion of 'Matot' - "What are YOU doing here?!" May we each be blessed to spend each moment of every day wide Awake, celebrating the special gifts and the unique role that we alone bring to the world. With Love and a Smile, ~Shu