Standing Before Hashem

אתם נצבים היום.  What difference does it make that one is standing before Hashem?  The Sfas Emes (5635) says that this knowledge is what allows one to do teshuva.  Since it says in the Torah, which is eternal that you are before Hashem that means when one turns away and sins it doesn't define the person.  ומצד זה יכולין כל הרשעים לחזור בתשובה כי החטא רק במקרה שנפרש מכללות ישראל ולכן יכול לחזור לשורשו כמאמר לירושת אבותי אני חוזר.  Because one has knows where to go back to, one can do teshuva. 

תְּ֭פִלָּה לְעָנִ֣י כִֽי־יַעֲטֹ֑ף וְלִפְנֵ֥י י֝״י֗ יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ שִׂיחֽוֹ (Tehillim 102:1.)  Why is the prayer called עיטוף?  The Gemorah Rosh Hashana (17a) says מלמד שנתעטף הקדוש ברוך הוא כשליח צבור והראה לו למשה סדר תפלה to teach Moshe the 13 middot harachamim.  What is the message of Hashem being enclothed in the tallit?  The Maharal in Bear Hagolah (4:12) explains that when is covered by a tallis one does not look left and right; one is totally focused.  When one follows in the way of the 13 middot of Hashem and is focused totally of Hashem, their is a reciprocation from Hashem to focus on the person.  That is the prayer of an עני, one that is focused totally on Hashem.  That is the message of the selichot; to regain one's straight stance before Hashem.