Covered in Dust: Thoughts for the New Year

There was a blessing commonly given to disciples in the day of Jesus: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.” It is an image of walking so closely behind your teacher that the dust from the ancient Palestinian roads on which they travel ends up on you. It’s a blessing of position relative to the one you follow—because your position, relative to the one you follow, matters. As we head into a new year, with a God who makes all things now, may we be covered in the dust of our rabbi. And may that bring hope, joy and purpose to our days ahead.