Rabbi Weinberg's Elul Thought for the Day

Tuesday Sept 22
Yesterday in the Haftarah for the fast day we read the pasuk from Yishayahu (55:6): 
  דִּרְשׁוּ ה, בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ; קְרָאֻהוּ, בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב
Seek Hashem while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near
The Gemara in Rosh Hashanna 18a echoed by the Rambam in Hilchot Teshuva (2:6) sees this pasuk which speaks about a time when Hashem is particularly close to us as a reference to this time of year we find ourselves in right now:  The Aseret Yemei Teshuva. 
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַתְּשׁוּבָה וְהַצְּעָקָה יָפָה לָעוֹלָם. בַּעֲשָׂרָה הַיָּמִים שֶׁבֵּין רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הִיא יָפָה בְּיוֹתֵר וּמִתְקַבֶּלֶת הִיא מִיָּד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נה ו) "דִּרְשׁוּ ה' בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ"
 Not only is this a time we must work on change and improvement because our judgement hangs in the balance, but because it is a perfect time to recreate a relationship with Hashem.  When someone reaches out to you, when someone comes close to you and closes the gap that exists between you, when someone extends a hand in peace it makes it much easier to take the next step of reciprocating.  Hashem has reached out! He is there waiting!  During these 10 special days He is closer than ever!  This is a gift that we must appreciate and take advantage of.  Take a moment today to think about a time in your life when someone took a step to come closer to you and that made it easier to open up the relationship.  Take a moment today, whether during tefila or some other time, to focus on what it means to you to build a relationship with Hashem and what the moments are when you feel close to Him.