Speaking of Spirit

Once again, waves of hate and fear have hit upon the shores of our country. Once again, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, family and friends are doused with the waters of despair.   We hear people calling from prayer. We hear people calling for justice. Yet, nothing seems to change.  Today, as I listened to our pastor speak of being filled with peace, I wondered just how I, as a woman of pale color, could be filled with peace when my family - blood-related as well as "adopted" - of dark color struggle daily with the knowledge that their children, their spouse, or they themselves may be killed simply for being dark-skinned.   I will be honest.  I am horrified that we as a nation built on "Christian" morals - Thou shalt not kill! - still allow ourselves to find ways to condone the possession of weapons of war.  Let me make this clear - I am not talking about hunting weapons.  Many families still hunt for their food and that should be allowe...

    Friday night, social media was flooded with comments, memorials and quotes from a gently fierce woman, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As the news of her death from cancer spread around the world, people began asking questions like, "Can anything else go wrong in 2020?"  and making statements like, "Now, we are lost." But, I see it differently. Yes, my social justice, activist heart broke at the news that Justice Ginsburg was no longer with us on this physical plane. However, in an email to one of my daughters, I wrote something that inspired this post.  I wrote that with her death, I now knew what the disciples must have felt when they learned that Jesus had died.  A TZADDIK Not long after writing to my daughter, I read that "according to Jewish tradition, a person who dies on Rosh Hashanah, which began tonight, is a tzaddik, a person of great righteousness."  How perfect!  Justice Ginsburg absolutely embodied "great righteousness."  While my ...

We have all be told at some point in our lives to "lead by example." We don't have to proselytize, or yell and holler. We simply live the way we know is best and others will see our example. In the photo above, the use of a hand-push lawn mower seems right out of the 50's, but it is last week. We use it because we want to do everything we can to save our planet and keep healthy in our old age.  What a delight when one of our neighbors down the road suddenly appeared pushing a brand new one!  In our contentious political climate, where politicians on both sides of the aisle have lost their ability to lead with truth and justice, let us remember that what we do and how we do it can impact other's lives.  We need to demonstrate to the world, as well as each other, that people still believe in justice, kindness, responsibility and truth. We must shine brightly into the darkness of growing hate, intolerance, despair, and lies.  Leading by example does not...

Over the last few days, I have been haunted by the images of refugees fleeing Syria.  As a mother and grandmother, my heart has once more been broken by the total horror of this world.  The little one found on the shore wasn't so much flotsam and jetsam.  He was someone's precious little boy, someone's blessed little grandson.   I am of the belief that all children are our children - whether we birth them or they live thousands of miles away - they are our children.  We, as a global community are responsible for them, as responsible as if they lived in our own homes.   I, like many of us out there, feel helpless in these situations. BUT, one thing I have learned - I cannot, will not stay silent .  I must raise my voice in prayer and protest when the horrors of war and injustice slither out from under the rocks in which they hide.  That being the case, this is my offering, humble as it is.  Perhaps it will reach those who have the...