Troubling Times and Heart-Lifting Messages

Yesterday I was privileged to participate in a lovely spiritual and healing program with our Multi-Faith Council run by two wonderful women of spirituality and faith, Marge Sexton and Bonnie Ostroff. I just love these gatherings and all aspects of my work with multiple faith communities. I cherish how we can simultaneously celebrate what we share and have respect and regard for where we differ, understanding the value of both of these dynamics and their intersection. I am awed by how SILENT we can be to LISTEN (note the same letters make up each word) to each other’s words and hearts. I value more than I can say the safe space we all collectively create, whether it is a group of us taking a walk through beautiful and serene nature as we just did or in gatherings with religious scholars and thinkers from around the world and within a multitude of faiths. I learn so much from these experiences and they lift me up from the depths of concern and worry I have for our world and planet at present, with all of its noise and distraction.

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. Muslims are in the middle of Ramadan. Christians are in the period of time before their Pentecostal observance and Jews are counting the Omer, as we look towards Shavuot. This week was Memorial Day and Independence Day in Israel while we also acknowledge that it was a difficult time, the Naqba, for our Palestinian neighbors. Memorial Day will soon be here for Americans, and the list goes on. So many moments to stop and be thankful, be reflective, consider the sacrifices so many have made and may still be making, be mindful that one person’s moment of joy may and will simultaneously be another’s moment of sorrow, and just stop to be silent and really listen to the voices around us. It is then that I think we really learn so many important lessons.

I have shared before but it bears repeating a conversation between Oprah Winfrey and Scott Peck years ago where she was recounting a recurring dream that she has in which she is flying a bit off the ground and keeps seeing children. When she asks them “How are you?” the respond, “That is the wrong question. You should ask me what I was sent here to teach you today?” I just love that notion – it is at the heart of my daily opportunities for learning with so many others through the course of a given week, where I facilitate the process of looking at texts and considering their meaning. But the bonus, the real payment, is the many lessons I learn from those in the learning circles I have the honor of facilitating. Here are just a few lessons I carry with me to help me wade through the distracting and disruptive voices that are too loud and too worrisome in our world today. I have learned them and continue to consider them (thus all are voiced in present tense) daily as validation that there are so many wonderful people and lessons to learn from them. These lessons come from people of all faiths, backgrounds and ages. As we learn in Proverbs/Mishlei, Wisdom can be and is found on the street, that is to say, everywhere and at all times, if we are open to its voice.

From Nourah, I learn to always try to be the best person of faith and belief I can be and to never stop trying. From Neli, I learn that adult sarcasm and nuanced humor can quickly be picked up by a seven-year-old and repeated. From Fredda, Adel, Carol and so many others in my SAG group, I learn that no matter what challenges life throws at you, keep smiling, hold your head high and take pride in yourself. From Alison, Ella, and the rest of the Mishmar groups, I learn that figuring out the nuances of difficult texts and interpretations are the property of people of all ages, including eight year olds. From Jerry S., Bonnie, Esta, Ava, Jerry P., Susan, Esther, and Lisa, I learn that siblings are not necessarily only those you are related to; some we choose along the way and hold onto for life. From Larry and Lois and from Linda and Frank, I learn the beauty of love and marriage at all stages of life. From Tom, I learn that one can care as deeply for your own child as you do. From so many of my colleagues and friends – RL, LJS, CS, MK and others, I learn that we all have our challenges and yet we all function with so much grace and love for others. From too many to mention who are part of my MBIEE community I learn that aging can be and is fun – and vital, well into one’s 90’s and they all share a very positive attitude, which I love. From Rachel, I learn that we should always be prepared to make new friends in our lives, because amazing ones will come by. From so many grandparents of the PJDS community and SLLLs of Samuel A. Green House, I learn how important it is to pass our legacy stories on to the next generation. From Neima I learn how to think deeply and from Adel I learn how to smile and laugh broadly. From Kassia I learn to never, and I mean NEVER underestimate an almost two-year-old. From Yoella and Jeremy I learn that it is so fun to watch one’s children parent as they combine their own styles with what you hope you were able to teach them. From Aria, Bentzi, Lador, Sylvie, Eva, Sydney, Charlie, Yuval, Naomi, Alyssa, Esther, Jacob and all of the other wonderful Mishmar students from PJDS, I learn that it does not matter how old the people in your learning circle are – EVERYONE has lessons to teach each other. From Rachie and Talie I learn how to maintain calm in a storm and how to rejoice when you see your children following their passions in their careers. From Mimi and Liz, I learn how happy one is when one knows their child has found the love of their life and when those choices are so wonderful, you are proud of them and your children. From Brian, I learn that each person truly has to find their own way and be accepted for that. From Bethanie, I learn that flying around your living room in fairy wings can be a great form of discipline or just invoke fear in your children. From all of my Eshel family, I learn that we all love our families and children and appreciate the foundational teachings of our faith in acceptance of each other just the way G-d chose to fashion us. From my CAMC friends and all of those I work with in Interfaith work, I learn how remarkably similar our foundational principles are. From Steve, I very recently learned that we are all “in the middle of our story.” From my amazing husband, Ken, I learn that love and a positive relationship do not hurt or harm, but help and validate every day.

These are just a few of the hundreds of lessons and people I carry in my heart daily. I love you all for the lessons you have and continue to teach me and share with all those around you. May we all value being SILENT and LISTEN for those lessons. Doing so definitely gives us the strength, the Hizzuk, we need to go forth and continue to be better and do better in spite of what may be happening around us. Happy Celebrations and Observances to all.