A Brush with Death--Someone Saved My Life

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~Albert Einstein

 

I had a brush with death--and a friend named Arnie saved my life. Arnie lives in Jerusalem Israel and is the CEO and founder of his own Consulting Co. I met him on Facebook and befriended him. I have 315 mutual friends with Arnie on Facebook. So, how was my life threatened and how did he save my life? Here is the story:

 

I live in a building that locates a vending machine right next to my apartment. In that vending machine that I see every time I walk to the bathroom, are numerous Snickers bars--deadly processed sugar in every candy wrapper.

 

I was buying one Snickers bar per day and became addicted to them. There they were, right next to my apartment! Always in my sight, begging to be purchased and gulped down my throat!

 

Why is there a problem with Snickers Bars? My father loved Snickers bars and he would always bring them home and it was my father's delight and addiction too. Can one inherit an addiction? I would say "yes." Because my father loved Snickers Bars, I attached the memory of my father to the eating of this chocolate bar and psychologically honored my father's memory by snacking on them, remembering him with every deadly bite of this poisonous processed sugar. And wow....are they ever accessible--right outside my door! I do not even have to leave my home and go to a store to get them. Real problem.

 

I do not have diabetes but I once was diagnosed with a high triglycerides problem after a blood test--too much sugar, and on the way to diabetes--just a few more Snickers bars and yes, I would be a diabetic. My father died early--he lived to only 67 years old. My Rabbi once warned me to drop this addiction, to drop processed sugar--that it is a killer. But then along came this vending machine!

 

Anyway, this is how my life was saved: Arnie told me to buy one Snickers bar only per week and cut it into 8 pieces and eat 1 piece on each weekday and 2 pieces on Shabbat. He turned this bad, unhealthy, uncontrollable experience into a healthy AND holy experience. How much better could it get??

 

I now can feel this connection with my father: have only one small, controlled piece of the Snickers bar everyday and honor and celebrate Shabbat with two pieces to celebrate the specialness of Shabbat. I am not in danger this way of getting diabetes, and this small amount of sugar will not destroy my liver or put cavities on my teeth.

What a great idea! My Rabbi and this good man Arnie, saved my life. Yes, this is a miracle in my life--I am so glad I have intelligent, kind, and caring friends. What a gift from Adonai! Todah rabbah, Adonai.