My daughter recently turned 6. She was excited to turn 6. She loved being 5. She’s already thinking about being 7. It’s clear that she views her turning 6 as a major milestone and life accomplishment. It’s also clear that she had no problem letting go of 5. Watching her go to sleep a 5 […]
Relationships
Remind
The deepest truths of human experience and reality can’t be taught. They can’t be acquired. Uploaded. Downloaded. Inputed. Scanned. Computed. Etc. They’re already there, in the inmost place where things sometimes find themselves forgotten, disregarded, shunned, or otherwise put out of mind. You and I already know them. Whether we’ve been too preoccupied to meditate on […]
Everyday holiness
There’s long been a distinction in Judaism between “Kodesh” (“Holy”) and “Chol” (“Profane/Mundane”). In fact, the Havdalah Service at the end of Shabbat includes a blessing that thanks God for distinguishing between these two different states- Kodesh and Chol. The distinction comes from the fact that the rabbis of ancient times thought that part of […]
Hiking on Hardtimes
While enjoying our stroll through the woods outside of Asheville I had a chance to reflect on the activity of hiking. Specifically, I had a chance to reflect on the different ways that people choose to journey through the woods (and to some extent through life). The fact that we were walking on a trail […]
Fearless
I don’t want to be fearless. I think it’s good that my 3 year old son gets scared when the table at our local hibachi restaurant spontaneously bursts into flames as the chef puts on his culinary show. I think it’s good that my 5 year old daughter wants to hold my hand when […]
A Blessing for Grandparents Day
Dear God, Source of life, source of blessing, source of miracles. We thank you for granting us the ability to witness and experience miracles. The miracles of love and family, of children and grandchildren, of a chain of tradition that extends across the generations. The miracles of growth and transformation, Of learning and discovery, of […]