Already by Birchos haShachar I’ve remembered eight urgent things to do

H

ow you start is how you tend to continue.

“If they’re late on the first interview they’ll be late the whole way through” a boss warns.

“On our first date I lost my keys” a friend shares. “Since then I’ve lost at least twenty sets.”

“You shall not go out to war” for the shanah rishonah. The Torah teaches that we need that first year to concentrate on our marriage the family’s foundation from which all blessings flow.

And how admirable to help a young husband concentrate on Torah study for the first year of marriage to make that foundation infinitely more blessed.

If I start the day by concentrating on davening — blessings flow.

It’s hard. Already by Birchos haShachar I’ve remembered eight urgent things to do. I have to rein myself in by telling myself “Hashem will help you do it infinitely better — after davening.”

How many times have I not listened to that truth and decided “Before I get to Baruch She’amar when I won’t be able to talk I’ll call the doctor/lawyer/office and just take care of that ‘one’ thing before I forget/it’s too late.”

If I do make that call invariably the line’s busy or the person isn’t there yet.

It’s hard. But it’s so worth starting off on the right foot.

Once before davening I had to go get a very important paper from the doctor’s office. Take care of it right away! A voice urged. So many obstacles can turn up if you don’t!

Perfectly rational.