Rachel Naomi Remen
Good Morning, God!
How utterly wonderful to find a new author — and especially an affirming author filled with a quiet wisdom. No dogma or rules — just true stories that bless us. Stories are how we learn and how we grow. Jesus didn’t just heal the sick and do miracles — he told stories — stories that reach inside us and invite us to be changed.
I suppose You gave her an Orthodox Jewish grandfather — a mystical one at that — as a gift to her that later on would become a gift to all of us. Here is a short vignette from Peter Chou’s coverage of a talk she gave at Stanford in 2004: My grandfather used to give me presents. Once he brought me a paper cup when I was four years old. I was disappointed that the cup was filled with dirt.
He took me to the kitchen and showed me how to put a little water in the cup. He told me “Neshume-le, you put some water in the dirt every day and something will happen.” The first week I waited for something magical, but nothing happened. The second week, I wanted to give the cup back to grandfather.
But the third week, two tiny green leaves appeared out of the dirt. I was thrilled and when I showed the cup to him, Grandfather said, “Life is everywhere— hidden in the most ordinary and unexpected places.” I asked, “And all it needs is water, Grandpa?” And he laughed, “No Neshume-le, all life needs is your faithfulness.”
Yes, God, yes! Life needs our faithfulness. The dear friend who shared Rachel’s books blessed me. Sharing Wise Words is a Blessing. But as Rachel says we can be a Blessing by listening — or by sitting together in Silence. Help me, God, to grow toward Faithfulness.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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