A community member recently shared with me a few letters and notes from a relative who had just passed away. They were deeply personal, expressive, and seemed like a letter to a loved one. They were penned to G-d.
It was an encouraging reminder of what prayer ought to look like. Far from being a routine or ritual, or even a petition to a distant and remote being, prayer at its core is an authentic one-on-one encounter with our creator.
Moses, whose yahrtzeit was marked this past week on the seventh of Adar, epitomized this kind of relationship. His conversations and petitions to G-d throughout his life, whether on behalf of the people he led or for his personal needs, were marked by a strikingly personal tone, indicating the depth of the relationship he enjoyed. The Torah describes his communication as being: "Mouth to mouth" (Bamidbar 12, 8) and "Face to face" (Devarim 34, 10).
When seen and experienced in this light, we realize that by G-d inviting us to engage in conversation with Him, through prayer, we are given a tremendous gift.
So go ahead, let your guard down. Open up and have a heart to heart conversation with G-d, as a loving parent. Share your frustrations, successes, hopes, and dreams. He is waiting to hear from us, His dear children.