You Count

There is this concept of getting 1% better each day. When it starts, there is almost no difference. It is just a drop better today over yesterday. But as time goes on, the difference becomes very noticeable. If one gets better 1% each day for a year, at the end of the year they are 37 times better than when they started.
On Passover we celebrate the freedom from the tyranny of constraints toward the freedom of serving a higher power. This journey toward receiving the Torah and accepting the monogamous relationship with G-d is called Sfirat Ha’omer - the counting of the Omer that takes place during the seven weeks from Passover until Shavuot.
The Omer Journey is one of daily improvement, changing our behavior just a little bit. By the time Shavuot comes around, we are already a half time better than we were before. If we start with 1 we end with 1.63 (if my math is accurate) and if we do it for a year, we end with 37.78.
In order for us to grow, we need to start with recognizing our value. 1% of 0 is 0. So while humility is important, it’s more important to recognize that G-d chose us to be His people. He looks at each and every person and says YOU matter, YOU count. What have you done to make yourself just 1% better today?
Do a mitzvah and add a little light to the world today.
Have an amazing Shabbos!
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman