Our Full Attention

After 40 days of introspection, after an intense two day proclamation of Hashem's sovereignty, after a week's worth of personal self betterment and sincere desire to return, and after an entire day of fasting and praying for the atonement - the cleansing from our past misdeeds - what is the next step in our personal journey ?

Naturally, if we used our time properly and achieved a measure of success in our Elul and Tishrei-so-far, then the real question on our minds is - how do we protect all that we've gained ? How do we prevent the heightened sensitivity to all things holy from dropping beneath the radar into a physicality-induced stupor ? How can we safeguard the "New Me" who is more concerned with my fellow man from slipping into a cynic who is only out for themselves ?

The answer is, of course, Sukkos - but how ?

Well, before our crash course in self betterment, there was plenty of mental energy being focused on our desires, wants and schemes. It is a given that these can prevent one from serving G-d properly. Even once we have emerged, a better person, we have still not directed these energies for good - we have simply denied them their evil application. Enter Sukkos, a holiday that is so filled with mitzvos that it can ( and does ! ) demand our entire attention. We have completed the "סור מרע" and now we are embarking on the "עשה טוב". This is the final part of our reformation - investing in our relationship with Hashem our full attention.

B'Hatzlacha !