who carries their own story of the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual road to and through the rabbinate. We embrace our history and we bless one another, each of us, with a lesson or message that will serve all of us well.
This year, wrapped in a blanket, sitting in the chair that belonged to my grandfather in which he never sat (a story for another time), I named myself - Lisa Gelber, JTS, 1996 and spoke of a practice that has saved me in this corona year, framing life with potential. Just as I begin my day with blessings of gratitude for what I will encounter in the world that day, whether uplifting, joyful, challenging or heart wrenching, I strive to meet those moments from the place of possibility. Using the lens of wonder and curiosity, I imagine what can be. Particularly this year, I have found seeing myself as the gatekeeper of my own happiness and success empowering and lifegiving. When we take responsibility for our attitude, we lay claim to the future that unfolds in front of us. Staying in tune with our inner core of strength, flexing the muscle of resilience, and making space for how we are doing in any moment invites us to be real, honest and connected. It is ok to do just enough. It's ok to embrace practices we never imagined. Life has never stood still. That was a myth. So, give yourself credit and model for others how you do things and why.
In twenty years time...
People will not ask the children of 2020 if they caught up with their studies.
They will not ask them what grades they made, despite the year off school.
They will ask them with wonder ‘what was it like?’
They will ask them ‘how did you cope?’
‘How did you feel?’
‘What do you remember of those days?”
They will listen in awe to the tales of clapping on doorsteps for the medical workers.
They will sit open-mouthed to hear of daily walks being the only life we saw and how much we missed human contact and gatherings.
They will be amazed to know about empty supermarkets, online concerts, birthdays spent on a screen and a life lived inside.
They will listen, then sit back with amazement and say, ‘Wow. You went through so much.’
So think about what you would like your children to take away from this whole year.
Tell them they are not behind.
Tell them they are not missing out.
Tell them they are extremely special indeed and they will be forever made stronger by this unique time.
Tell them catching up is not even a thing because they have grown so much in so many other ways.
Remind them too of the fun stuff, the family jigsaws, the window rainbows, the zoom bingo.
The feeling of safety and togetherness amidst the chaos.
Let them take that thought with them through life.
Change the narrative now and it will travel far.
Tell the children they are not behind.
They are special.
They are special.
Donna Ashworth
From History Will Remember
Change the narrative now and it will travel far. For sure our children need this as we move into the future. Grown-ups need it too. And our ancestors, well, our parasha tells us they needed a change in narrative as well. Vayikra immerses us in details and introduces the proscribed offerings for daily life and living. There are sacrifices for gratitude, thanksgiving and unintentional harm. Each of the korbanot/sacrifices brings us closer to our truth and our reality so that we may continue to engage in Gd's world. This frame of order and detail is a new way of nurturing and maintaining the sacred center and holy freedom established with the mishkan/tabernacle dwelling place for the divine. With the destruction of the Temple, things changed again, and again, and again. Because life is not static. The words we share and the actions we take matter, not just themselves but in the way in which we tell the story, our story, l'dor vador, for generations to come.
As Passover, our holiday of telling approaches, check your narrative and open your heart to possibility and potential. The more we practice coming close in spirit, the more we raise up holy and sacred humanity and community.
Shabbat Shalom
rg
