Teshuvah (Repentance)

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13

Yes, you can change the past. Teshuva is the tool that enables this and it (alongside prayer) is the most powerful tool in the universe. A sincere alcoholic or addict that successfully integrates a 12-step program into their lives and who sees that life transformed in unimaginable ways has practiced Teshuva. God created nature perfect, but humans, with our intellectual capacities, exist beyond the nature of 3 dimensions and into the higher worlds. We are all meant to return to God (the higher worlds) and we do that through Teshuva (literally, return). It is through this dance of run and return over many lifetimes that the Soul begins to awaken to what it truly mean to be made "in the image of God".

A new understanding of our relationship to the Creator is desperately needed. Ministry of Life tabernacles will stand as embodiments of transformation, inviting individuals to rediscover their purpose, strengthen their bonds with others, and enact positive change from within. This mission is imbued with the deeply spiritual concept of Teshuva, or repentance—a return to rightful living, a homecoming to sustainable practices, and a collective effort to heal our broken reality.

Crucial to the Ministry of Life vision is the recognition of the enduring impact of our earliest experiences. Thus, we prioritize creating enriching environments that uplift families, facilitate personal and communal growth, and build resilient communities. We aim to challenge and reshape the societal narrative, which often focuses on combating the symptoms of decay, by concentrating instead on its root cause: the erosion of family and community values and the corruption of the foods that sustain us all.

Teshuva becomes our guiding principle, a beacon of redemption encouraging us to face our past actions honestly and boldly seek amends. Ministry of Life tabernacles thus become sanctuaries for repentants—spaces that demonstrate the transformative power of collective action and shared commitment towards planetary and personal healing, where we address not only the spiritual but the physical. We acknowledge the influence of our dietary choices and their impact on our bodies and minds. We understand that a significant portion of our social, mental and physical ailments spring from decades of environmental and nutritional degradation fueled by avarice, misinformation, and media manipulation. By redefining our relationship with the earth and our food, we intend to foster a more holistic approach to health and well-being that nurtures the soil and the soul.

Yet, the sphere of our Teshuva extends beyond the borders of our communities. It reaches the hearts and lands of the farmers and ranchers who are grappling with the realization of the damage their past practices have wrought on their lands and their health. As Stewards of the Ministry of Life, we hold the potential to provide these individuals a path towards their own Teshuva through our affiliated ecosystem services that regenerate soil and reclaim water. Our commitment to innovative education emphasizes the importance of collaboration, critical thinking, and sovereignty and we will educate and enable a new industry of ecosystem service workers that utilize MIG grazing to rectify degraded soils and restore fertility to vast swaths of rural Texas. As they near the twilight of their lives, we can offer these landowners an opportunity to restore the vitality of their lands and contribute to the generation of a brighter future.

To facilitate this, MoL tabernacles will support and educate parents, educators, and community leaders, equipping them with the resources necessary to raise a generation of empathetic, empowered citizen warriors that will reject the idolatry, lies and deception that characterize our modern society. We will spend considerable effort in promoting the practice of fermenting and canning food to build resilience in the gut microbiome of children and provide activities that allow them to engage in the process of growing the foods that we will ferment for them. We have seen how our daughter's opinion and taste for fermented and healthy foods grew tremendously after we introduced her to the process of harvesting and growing and that, introduced young, children will naturally choose and enjoy foods that are healthier for them. By inviting them on the journey, from seed to plate, we will thus incite their imagination and give them a greater appreciation for foods normally eschewed by the children of modern society.

It is only through hard work and commitment that true Teshuva can be achieved, but the results, we know, are unimaginable by those who tread that path. Miracles will become commonplace.