Oh, Autumn

Now we begin the rush of the holiday season, the air has turned, crisp mornings, cold evenings, the blanket goes back on the bed, the dog and cat begin to bulk up their hair for the winter...perhaps it is this season of the year that I love most! This morning after dropping Theo off at his job, I took Myraah to the park! The leaves are just begining to turn, the air smelled fresh and under foot the ground was wet with dew. It is a small park just at the top of a hill, but it is beautiful, there is running water, long paths to walk and the stream goes up and down hils, winding through the park the path crosses the stream on little wooden bridges, ducks and geese and about a dozen wild cranes were there to taunt the dog. There were hardly any other people walking at 7:30 this morning and when the trail dipped down the hill one could almost forget that just above us was the city traffic and the hum of life getting up, going to work or school, or out to breakfast! It was a great time of silence and water rushing by, Myraah sniffing the ground, barking back at the gesee, and bounding after a squirell. It reminded me of long ago in a far away place where peace was the norm, and happiness was right where you were.

There is much to do this time of year, the plans are already in the making for Thanksgiving, the bird is already ordered, and the cupboard is overflowing with the ingredients that make up the traditions of our family. My daughter and I talk almost daily on the phone, and each time we remind each other that in just a few more weeks we will be together cooking, playing with the babies and sharing! My heart this morning is full to overflowing with gratitude. This past week was a really hectic one, our lift arrived at long last from Israel and amoung the broken dreams there now are some lost piece of our life, amid the work of integrating those possession into the home we have made for ourselves here there were some moments of sadnesses, and reflection. We are, all in all, stronger for the time we spent living in Israel, but we are also less sure of the survival of the state of Israel, and in fact of this earth of ours.

When will humanity come to see that war, hartred and injustice are not the way the PEACE! Will it ever happen, or are we doomed to go on practicing baseless hatred, denial of the rights of all humanity to a life free from the horrors of war?

Again it comes to my mind that we as individuals must do something, we must act on our consciousness, we must not allow the inherent eveil in man to prevail. Each individual who is awake, aware and conscious of the power of good should set out each and everyday to do all that we can to tip the scales in this great battle between good and evil. Some people would scoff at me and call me an idealist, but there is living proof in my life, and in my husbands life that if we do good, we receive an abundance from the realm of G-D that is a direct result of our intent to do what we can to make this world a better place.

Just this past week, there were several signs of the working of good in our lives. For months and months we have walked, ridden the bus or the train, or rented a car to go see our family or accomplish the simple everyday things of working, shopping, seeing doctors, going to the kids...it was hard, we never complained, we were tired, sometimes slepping the groceries home for Shabbat on Friday morning took almost every ounce of strength from me, but then a window opened for us to get a car, and now life is easier! Why? Not because we had the money to buy a vehicle, not because we took on a loan, no just because we have been helping others and someone saw our need and helped us in return.

There was a movie a couple of years ago, " Paying it Forward", what a great concept this young man had, pay it forward, do for others, be good, be courteous, be kind, care about the world, and guess what good flows into your life, like rain on new crops!

If I learned anything from the experience of Israel, it is this one simple fact..."Evil exists in the world, and unfortunately it is strongest in the places where you least expect to find it!"...if this world is to continue to exist, if our great grandchildren are to have a planet to live on, then all of us must rise up and begin right where we are to stamp out evil in this world, we must clean up our rivers, our air, replant our forests, begin to use the technologies that we have discovered to aid each other instead of making weapons of mass destruction. We must come to a place where we can look any human being, of any race, religion or country in the eye and see their humanity and it's fraility, and we must see them as our equal! We must stop seeing others as less than, and begin viewing them as our brother and sisters, we must speak with ONE VOICE! We must unite as people of the planet earth, and realize that unless we learn to live together, all of us will ultimately be wiped out!

As you come together with friends and family this holiday season, speak about the hard facts, talk about what is true, share your hopes and dreams. Try to be open to the possibility that we could begin to "PAY IT FORWARD!" Inquire as to the health of the soul of your children, your grandchildren. Don't neglect the sacred while worshipping the profane insanity of gift shopping and giving! Stop and really look around you, take a moment to notice those in need, sit a bit longer with your family than usual, turn off the TV, the Stereo, the game boy and have a real conversation about the state of the world! Be daring, be brave, say the hard thing, ask the unasked question, come round to the truth for a change.

Believe me when I tell you that what has happened to Theo and I this past year is nothing short of a miracle, we came home a year ago with four suitcases, our dog and our cat, we have whitnessed one miracle after another in our lives as others reached out to help us, to heal us, to listen and to share with us! When we think about it, our eyes fill with tears, and we are renewed again in our belief that each one of us can make a difference if only we try!