We have passed through a bubbling cauldron of contradictory and complex thoughts. First, we anticipated the New Year, Rosh Hashanah, by preparing ourselves for meeting G-d and being fully aware and grateful of another year of life granted. Then we fasted and afflicted out minds and souls with an unfiltered look at the detritus accumulated through this past year. All out wrongdoings were views through a realistic prism of tarnished thoughts, actions, and inactions. We atoned, weeping for ourselves and our loss of life's path. Then came Sukkot with its heavily grounding in the earth - waving palms and etrogs, sitting in our Sukkot, reading the challenging ideas of Ecclesiastes… Then came Yizkor on Shmini Atzeret, and finally dancing and celebrating our gift form G-d on Simchat Torah. Joy, sadness, celebration, contemplation, remembrance….so many varied thoughts and practices as the summer recedes blending into Fall.
And now.
What is life about?
Perspective. Viewing life’s events through the lens of growth and hope. Here is a story to illustrate.
A writer sat in his study. He picked up his pen and began to write:
** Last year, my gall bladder was removed. I was stuck in bed due to this surgery for a long time.
** The same year I reached the age of 60 and had to give up my favorite job. I had spent 30 years of my life with this publishing company.
** The same year I experienced the death of my father.
** In the same year my son failed in his medical exam because he had a car accident. He had to stay in the hospital with a cast on his leg for several days.
** And the destruction of the car was a second loss.
At the end he wrote: Alas! It was such bad year!!
When the writer's wife entered the room, she found her husband looking sad and lost in his thoughts. From behind his back she read what was written on his paper. She left the room silently and came back shortly with another paper on which she had written her summery of the year and placed it beside her husband's writing.
When the writer saw her paper, he read:
** Last year I finally got rid of my gall bladder which had given me many years of pain.
** I turned 60 with sound health and retired from my job. Now I can utilize my time to write better and with more focus and peace.
** The same year my father, at the age of 95 without depending on anyone and without any critical conditions, met his Creator.
** The same year, God blessed my son with life. My car was destroyed, but my son was alive and without permanent disability.
At the end she wrote: This year was an immense blessing and it passed well!
The purpose of all our holy days is to make us reframe our lives, refocusing our emotional and cognitive energies on a life that is meaningful. That is why there are so many wild swings in practice and import. The sum total of our days will be judged by how we interpret it. Let us use this time in the aftermath of such a powerful series of prompts to consider how we can alter the pattern of our days.
