THE GRATITUDE OF QUIETUDE

Being thankful for peaceful quiet moments, thankful for friends I can talk with, email and send greetings cards, quiet still moments, as still and quiet as a Chapel that contains a Torah scroll behind Ark cabinet doors, as still as being at a pond where there is little movement in the water, as quiet as sitting next to a flower bud and watching a bee settle on it to make honey. To be in a quiet Sanctuary, just me and G-d, to walk down the street on a quiet day when there is little automobile traffic, to sing in a hum, and to have a song in my heart that repeats and calms the body and mind.

To make all words into mantras and to have a constant meditation whether I am sitting or standing. To look out a window at treetops and to see large bird nests where baby chicks are fed and kept warm in feathers.

To not hear noise, to have no noise anywhere, to walk as on a velvet carpet, no shoes squeaking and no heels pounding.

To watch a sunset out my window, seeing the sky get redder and redder, then purple and like at a theatrical play, a curtain as a blanket of darkness overcomes everything I see, and a blackness of quiet peace closes my eyes to dream about having another peaceful day.

TO EAT KOSHER TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT

Foods. Using foods to nourish, eating spiritual kosher foods, dietician-approved foods, foods that taste good, foods that look good, visually pleasing, colorful foods, foods cooked by a chef, a trained schooled chef and dishes cleaned in hot dish water, a machine to take many plates, plates separated by  meat and milk, kosher eating, kosher plates and kosher silverware. Serviced food on trays, a waitress who carries them, foods picked out as healthy foods, foods that she services me with a smile on her face. Always getting a "thank you."

Others not eating, scrimping and saving, eating foods that have no taste, money buys good foods, not have the money to buy good foods. Eating pork because it is cheap, disobeying the Mishnah and eating less and less. Dropping weight and being small. Depression or sadness setting in and not having a healthy appetite, no one to care what you eat, no one to serve you, you must instead service others.

Having a motive and reason for being--to feed the world. So no one goes hungry, kosher foods for everyone on Earth, foods that look and taste good for everyone. Food that spiritually elevates the soul in the body. Foods that are not argued over, foods that are in abundance, fresh foods, lean kosher meats, cooked vegetables straight from one's garden, a garden that grows all year long, no hunger during the winter, jarred foods, picked and frozen, stored foods to eat all year round.

To feed oneself, and to feed another, to eat lavishly, to eat to satisfy hunger,  to eat as a gift to G-d. To pray the Before and After Meals Blessings, to laugh and be joyous after you eat and to be thankful to G-d that you are not starving. To be glad for another to see them eating, to be thankful to G-d that there are others who are eating good foods too. Not to covet the foods on another's plate. To be happy with your lot. To eat kosher to your heart's content.

A LOVE THAT IS ETERNAL

Computer access, a miracle! Internet connectivity, a time to say hello to someone who lives miles away, a chat to type  words to someone, to be in the same sphere, a chance to use writing skills, researching information, expressing one's views in a freedom of speech on a blog, being a blogger.

Writing because no one is talking, talking is chit chat, useless words and useless speech, unheard words. No voice inflection sounds to cause someone pain as aggressive conversing, all words are gentle as gentle as its print type, soft type, sort words, the same words but with a twist of intellectualism, no anger expressed, tolerance everywhere, freedom of the press.

Texting by phone, fingers agile and accomplished, saying something with words of loving-kindness, no one stabbing another with a quick word of insult, no chance to lie, telling someone they are a "sweetie" but not placating, not using someone for your own gain, understanding why someone loves you. As a child loves his mother, and as a mother loves her child, or at least she can make the attempt.

Having children so there will be someone to love you. G-d opens the womb of a woman who was not loved when she was a child by her parents, so that there will be her children to love her in her old age.

Not having children to be loved, but instead to love them. Not a selfish endeavor, not expecting your children to love you in a one-way-street.

Showing unconditional love and loving everyone equally.

Being loved by G-d Himself. Having love that follows you everywhere, as He follows you everywhere, love from G-d being stronger than a love from a parent to a child or child to a parent. A love that is eternal.  

THE MIRACLE OF A SHINING KNIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

The miracle of his kind words, the miracle of his smile, a mile wide enough to attract the honeybees to make sweet honey dripping from one's mouth, a smile of sincerity, awesomeness, greatness, his linage shines with purity, he notices all good things, he compliments when he sees goodness, he reveres others' accomplishments, he tries to encourage, not discourage, his goodness abounds, he is gentle like a teddy bear, his honesty shines forth like a light from his face after being with G-d, seeing G-d's righteousness, he comments to show love, his approval is genuine, he wants love to be everywhere, his heart sings the Song of Songs, gently but firmly he honors me, honors all good things, his kindness made me feel good, a true heart, a niceness, a bandage over a wound, a man who loves, a man will live on to love again.

WHEN JACOB KISSED ESAU

The miracle of getting a box of gifts that contained every single thing you ever wanted and ever needed. Lotions and soaps that smell good, candy of chocolate that tastes good, clothes that decorate and clothes that fit right and feel good. Gifts for Chanukah with a Chanukah card included, a menorah on its cover that is bright enough to lighten the darkest winter day and night.

Having a love of the gifts, a feeling to protect them as children, possessions that cause proud ownership, thanking G-d for His generosity and the generosity of the gift-giver.

Having a reason to sing out loud, rejoicing as gifts are exchanged, not comparing my gifts to his, being satisfied with every item and throwing competition out the window, not coveting someone else's grass as greener than mine.

So incredibly thankful for material items that bring joy. Having things one needs as well as things one desires. Having everything and not wanting or needing anymore. Being happy with the quantity as well as quality. Wondering how I got so lucky.

Wondering how all my needs became satisfied with just one box of gifts. Chanukah gifts. Gifts that mean everything to me, gifts that changed my world. A droopy downward curvature of the mouth spreading into a upwards growing grin, and then a big toothy smile!

Jacob showered his brother Esau with gifts, then Esau stopped his armies from attacking Jacob, and the two brothers kissed when they saw each other, happy, and loving, a unity of a family.

SEEING SPARKS OF YELLOW WITH FIERY OPEN EYES

The miracle of fiery eyes, passionate thoughts and significant philosophies from an imagination that lives on and never quits, the fire never burns out, it smolders, but gets relighted on every holy day, holiday, to feel G-d's strength and almightiness, His commitment to do goodness, to overcome evil with righteousness, His strength as reflected like Chanukah candle lights from the pupil and retina of a healthy eye, burning passionately as one stares at a miracle. A miracle coming true. A desire that one works for becoming a reality, a lifelong commitment that becomes true with continued labor. A retirement spent resting and also working, after seeing the fruition of one's dreams materialize.

Burning eyes that see the unseen, having wonderment in all facets of life wondering when and where one will see the next miracle.

Sunrays shining brilliantly like genius out of the eyeball sockets, guided to truths as G-d sees them, and knowing what not to look at, which sites to avoid, what sites will cause a flushing of the burning eye, a site that one need not observe, a site that colors the lightness with darkness, a site to turn one's eyes away from, to observe the beautiful as it comes your way.

To see the color yellow in all things brightly burning like a flame, like a sunray, a color that turns doom and gloom into happiness. To rejoice in this yellow-ish mood after eating and while thanking the Almighty G-d for giving us colors.

THE MIRACLE OF AN AFTERNOON CAT NAP

Curling up like a kitty, a cat nap, remember to always let sleeping dogs lie, sleepy and snoozy, catching some shut eye.

Working one's muscles hard in the morning, stretching and running, leaping and jumping, waking up with a sunrise, seeing red and pink in the sky.

Doing yoga in a classroom, watching it on TV.

Walking with pride, chin up, confidence, shoulders back, huffed up chest, streaking forward like a leopard after prey.

Climbing trees, building treehouses, sliding down chutes, chasing squirrels away from birdfeeders, hearing morning gulls screeching, watching them fly across the sky and dive down into lake water coming up with their breakfast: a fish out of water, a well fed bird.

Morning Glory in bloom, glorious mornings, waking up as the bird chirps a song of alarm into the air, always alert, always ready for an afternoon cat nap.

Falling into bed after a full morning, a well deserved sleep, a head on a pillow. Finally waking up again to an afternoon cup of tea.

Yes, this is my cup of tea!

THE MIRACLE OF A KOSHER MEAL

Foods that satisfy, foods that fill, foods that taste good, foods that are colorful and look beautiful as well as are tasty, foods that fulfill the Commandments in the Torah.

Foods that are kosher foods. Foods that are separated between meat and milk.

Foods that are crisp vegetables and fresh fruits, foods that have been drained of blood, foods from the front of the cow, foods that come from an animal that was blessed upon his death.

Foods that are free from impurities on a spiritual level. Foods that encourage ethical behavior, foods that when eaten elevate our spirit. Foods that are clean.

Meat of a cow that when slaughtered the cow felt no pain. Foods that when entering the body do not start a battle in your stomach.

Foods that teach us to be good and righteous. Foods that discourage arrogance and evil intentions. Foods that come with 613 Commandments to follow. Foods that when eaten cause us to remember G-d's Words as He spoke them to Moses, Miriam, and Aaron.

Foods that treat us kindly, foods that are honest, foods that feel good, foods that G-d has instructed us to eat.

Kosher foods. Foods we can love.

THE MIRACLE OF THE APPROACHING 4TH NIGHT OF CHANUKAH

Today on The 3rd Day of Chanukah, the weather temps are springtime-ish, and there is no snow, no ice, no stumbling on a frosty sidewalk, synagogues' Chanukah Dinner Parties are filled up not able to take on anymore participants due to overwhelming responses.

As each Xmas song sings to try to force people to buy, buy, buy, we can change the songs to songs about the baby Moses, and like a miracle in my life, the yellows get brighter all around me and the songs sound more beautiful! The light of the afternoon sunshine pours down warmer into my bedroom and toasts my body parts as I lay there in bed resting after a full Chanukah lunch.

Chairs without cushions become softer as the lights become brighter, computers seem faster than usual, and creative ideas are increasing like blessings are lighted as each Chanukah candle is lighted. Pure Cerulean blue flames shooting upwards like fireworks, blues and no reds, like the colors of the Israeli Flag, blues so pure that the blue waters could not be purer than these blue flames.

Hot fired nights, darkness disappearing, truth abounding, a true miracle has happened, a cup of oil that was meant to last for one night, lasted instead for 8. We have a true miracle, the Jews won the battle against the Assyrian Greeks with only one cup of oil to light our way, just a few Jews against thousands of hateful attacking Greeks, we won, we won, we will always win.

What we won is the truth of Torah to guide our lives, lives filled with miracles, and the unity of the family/community of Jews, supporting each other as landsmen, as comrades, as brothers and sisters, having The Promised Land of Israel as our eternal Homeland, we now are One, as in One G-d. Echad.

RIGHTEOUS LIVING AFTER A MIKVAH

Complete purity: newly washed clothes, natural waters splashed on my body, clean very short hair no straggles not one hair out of place. Purity of rain water on body and clothing and all over the ground washing dirt away, washing away tumah. Never a minute of work on a Shabbat never to carry never to use electronics darkened electric lights no fire lighted, cooking was done yesterday. All Shabbats celebrated none ignored holiness coming through everywhere not a moment of distrust not a minute of work on a Day of Rest. Tumah all washed away, words surrounding my ears only heard if they are words of purity, gossip quenched not heard not reaching the ears. Jewish Dietary Laws followed to a Tee. Never pork near my tongue not touching it not even looking at it. Pork does not exist. Clean hands clean everything clean heart--soul washed clean hyssop sprinkled and blessings chanted. A Thanksgiving where I am truly thankful for purity to its utmost nth of a degree completely totally holy.

HOW TO BE AN ANGEL

Feeling as carefree and joyous as an angel, one of the angels that are ascending and then descending on Jacob's Ladder. How is it to feel like an angel? What does one need to do to drop Earthly cares and everyday problems to take on a daily attitude of an angel? What is an angel anyway? If I have never seen an angel, can I still feel like one?

Detached from body aches and pains, leaving all stiffness behind, not conscious of one's skin whether it is dry or moist, out of the body, out of the world of "things" where things do not matter, not mattering how many or how much or what things you have, because when you are feeling like an angel all that matters is that you are able to transfer your gifts of lovingkindness onto another to make their day.

As an angel, you are a messenger from G-d, you have words to deliver, you go up Jacob's Ladder to hear the words of G-d, and then you descend down the ladder to share G-d's message with whom whoever He intended it to go.

Do you feel you have a message? A purpose to share lovingkindness with someone on Earth? Someone in your family, maybe? Is your message just "I love you."

As an angel you have a mission to share this love and deliver G-d's message to its recipient. Feeling as good as an angel today? Be like one. Do as angels do. Mimic them. Use them as mentors. Be an angel and change someone's life today with your message from G-d. Deliver lovingkindness from the Heavens down to Earth.

If an angel can do it, you can do it too. It's simple: Just say "I love you."


 

MIRACLES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS

God is in love with me! He is my father, my husband and my son, all in one, one being Echad, the one God that is all we really need, a oneness that becomes all people and all of one's environment loving you all at once, giving you a blast of love and trust, because God will never let you down. If you pray to God and He does not deliver you with the answer to your prayers, does not provide you with all the wishes you desire, this is because He is not a magician, magically causing the appearance of something out of nothing. God is everything, God is all, God is everything you see and feel and everything you do not see and do not feel. God is in control and will give you what God wants to give you, what you have and what you want is not in your control, it is your lot and being grateful for your lot is showing love to God, for what He has already given you, as this is what you have. God is not Santa Claus nor is He the mailman bringing you material items as gifts. God is everything, He is what you have and what you do not have. He is what you think and what you can think in the future, He is the flow of your thoughts and He is why we perform deeds of lovingkindness to others, He is our impetus, our audience, our motivation. God exists therefore we exist. We cannot exist without God. But God can exist without us. Hence we are humble and our "I" is not important, we are dust in the wind. If God does not answer our prayers, accept it. If we pray for our loved ones to continue to live, but what happens is they die, see it as what happens that we cannot control, all control is in the natural way of things as God provides it, life and then death. Everything that has life will someday have death. God reincarnates all who die into having another life. We can pray for life, but all will die and then have life again. So our prayers are answered for those to continue to have life. Do not blame God when someone dies against our wishes, we must wish for a continuance of life as our deceased enter The World To Come and become the soul of someone else's living being, a soul that lives again and again. If we cannot understand this, know that God cannot be understood by the common man, God is unperceivable, so complicated that we can never understand Him. Why someone dies after we pray for his/her life, to overcome death. Be real. Everyone who lives will die. God will not cause someone to live forever. You cannot understand this? Accept it and accept your lack of understanding. Live with it. Live with the knowledge that you are not God. And humble yourself and pray to the Sovereign who IS God. But be real in your prayers, accept your lot and be glad for all good things that come your way. Pray in thanks for every good thing. And make this your daily way.

THE MIRACLE OF THE MORNING SHAKARIT PRAYERS

Miracle. Walking slowly in stroll fashion next to Evergreen bushes dropping red berries for its nesting birds to eat. All these bushes come alive with a well trained verbal concert of chirping as each bird eats a red berry for breakfast.

Miracle. Hearing a Cantor sing in Hebrew every morning, davening strongly to his rhythm, bowing forth as we sway forward and backward, kissing the brick of the Wailing Wall, studying Torah, knowing what's happening. In Modim, we are appreciating it all and singing again even louder. "Oseh Shalom." [Make peace.]

Miracle. Smelling whiffs of strawberries, coconuts, and watermelon through the nostrils, laying out comfortably on a deserted island with these aromas all around, tickling the senses. Breathing in fresh air, breathing out foul air. As the coconuts fall off a tree and spatter its milk all around, to eat its meat, to be nourished.

Miracle. To praise G-d seven times per day: "Baruch Atah Adonai," repeated seven times. Seven is a complete number, there are seven days in a week, this number seven completes a week. Shabbat is the seventh day of the week. When we can have seven, we can have complete peace. We can "oseh shalom."

Miracle. I give myself up to prayer, listening and singing Halleluyah! Repeating Halleluyah and feeling YAH in the depths of my gut on a full stomach after a full nutritious breakfast. G-d's blessings are there for the picking, as one picks those handsome coconuts.

Miracle. Remembering the delicious scent of the etrog fruit on Sukkot, we rise and then daven the Amidah but leaning only on one leg. We are forever humble and our shyness gives G-d a chance to speak. We hear Him this way. As the palm leaves rustle in the wind, we can hear G-d whispering.

In awe, eagerly, in our Shakarit prayers, we tell Him we love Him and we thank Him.

A SUN, A MOON, A RAINBOW, A STAR, A FIRE

Rainbows and yellows, brightness of a morning sun rising from the ends of the earth as a red ball turning speedily into white light, reflecting itself upon a water's surface, a lake that becomes the color of the sun, and turns bluish as the color of the sky.

Moon is disappearing as the lightness overcomes the skies, disappearing into a wisp of a cloud, to again rise tonight as a reflection of the sun on its surface. Imagining men on the moon, dancing into craters, bouncing about and defying gravity. Laughter everyone, on farther planets, in one's mind, a hearty heart, a burst of rejoicing at all things, because of yellows and rainbows, because of reincarnation that gives birth to the dead. Halleluyah!

Speaking loudly in a brightened tone, clapping cymbals or just your hands, chanting Hebrew, watching rainbows get bigger and yellows get brighter, seeing goodness in all things, changing evil into goodness, cheering as one's eyes perceive the beautiful and the ugly descends out of sight.

Seeing a star fly into one's view, sparking like a flame, a hot fire, a sunbeam. Stimulation in all things. Halleluyah! A sun, a moon, a rainbow, a star, a fire--all ours to enjoy everyday! Every night!

Feel these miracles deeply inside your body and soul, enjoy them!

THE MIRACLE OF A PROTECTIVE FOG

The miracle of being an armadillo protected by a thick garment of armor, a turtle always safe, not reacting to punches, not getting mowed over or struck down. Keeping peace everywhere with all people, having a moist fog surrounding my body like a cloud from Heaven to confuse my enemies, they cannot see me to strike out against me, disguised, hidden, popping in and out but in safety.

Having an army of friends all around me to hear my grievances, to laugh with me, to cry with me, to give me support and no adversity, when adversity strikes--it is struck down with their help.

Music is always in the air, whether I can hear it or not, I step to the beat of Hebrew chanting and it envelops me in shalom.

Autumn warmth and color surround me, there are no better days ahead, all days are better days, and today is a better day. Everyday can be a good day, and a smile covers my face as I rejoice in today, this moment as being a great moment, all moments being moments of shalom.

Shalom is truly a miracle!

CONSUMED IN YOUR OWN ZEAL

What is zeal? How is this condition spawned and what does it do, how does it affect people? King David's Psalms tells us that when a person is attacked by another or challenged, or oppressed, or hurt in some way by an enemy, he becomes "consumed in his own zeal." So what is zeal? How does this feel to be consumed in it. How can this be expressed?

Zeal is the flick of your foot or the tapping of your fingers that are so strongly inspired by G-d, the opening of one's eyes, opened very widely and blinked down hard, as passion or zeal consumes them making all sights visions of an awesome content. Blinking one's eyes to music, feeling all the sounds as they vibrate wildly through your body, shaking your leg in restlessness, and tapping your foot as if it is possessed by a spirit--energy at its highest level--increasing consciousness.

Having zeal. Zeal is the stretching of a muscle, the great feeling of having a body that is like an army tank, or like a knight in shining armor. Having the protection of G-d in your zeal, as He wraps Himself all around you protecting you like as if you are behind a Wailing Wall, a fortress becomes your everywhere, yours as it is all around you in "Hashkivenu" Adonai.

Zeal, it is like a starburst, a gentle breath that starts to blow like a hurricane and can knock you over if you cannot accept it. A tsunami hits you in all your activities, a great sudden toss of G-d's miracles that start to happen everywhere, in all places!

In this zeal, you can see G-d, you can feel G-d, sometimes you can even hear G-d. Can G-d speak to you? Can you hear Him? You can if you are in "zeal."

"Zeal"--a condition to find comfort within, a time to cherish, for it is a miracle.

WARM SPRINGTIME TEMPERATURES DURING AUTUMN

Frolicking happy-go-lucky like as I kick up dried fallen leaves on the sidewalks, crunching them like nut and chocolate bars beneath my feet. We are having autumn, this is something the calendar has taught me, but how about these warm springtime-like outdoor temperatures!? We are having springtime in the Fall!

Watching the lake waves rolling in, during November, waters looking deceptively warm, but how could  this be?? It is autumn! A weak wind blows off the lake, too weak to splash in angry waves, the waters are placid and having autumn at the beach but without a cool breeze confuses my brain.

November, it should be a time of blistery winds, and cool crisp, cold air, but what we are having is sunshine and sprinkles of warm rain, but how could this be? Autumn colors are here, the leaves have changed colors despite the global warming.

The bugs are prevalent, watching ladybugs land on my arms, their black spots on orange bodies, then opening their wings and buzzing off. Visited by insect friends, who are not in hibernation because the temperatures are too warm. Food prices will skyrocket because bugs eat the plants, harvest digested by bugs, small quantities of food remain but at high prices because of the food's scarcity.

Warm temperatures in autumn, a miracle yes! We can go outside in our parks and push our babies in their swings, but here is a warning: do not get overly gleeful because snowstorms will be approaching!!!

The seasons will change, but we never know what they will change into. Who knows? Only G-d knows! Purim during Hanukkah? Yes, it is a miracle, G-d sends us miracles and what we do with them depends on our wits and our wily ways, survival and thrive-al is the name of the game. 

THE MIRACLE OF A KOSHER TUNA SANDWICH

The miracle of a tasty kosher tuna sandwich! How great it is to get a completely kosher sandwich that includes this fish, plus lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion, on wheat bread with mayonnaise and mustard!

The tuna fish has had its ups and downs. They say it is poisoned with mercury and that too much mercury causes dementia. So, being careful in the quantity of consumption is a warning here, all good things in moderation!

Tuna, chopped up with a sharp knife, delicately, finely, carrots added, stirred round and round with white creamy mayo, a tinge of a spice of onion to spark up the taste buds, to enrich the mouth with good kosher fish, having scales and fins. Deep sea diving to find a tuna fish, stabbing it and swinging it over one's shoulder and carrying it home for dinner. The tuna fish found my bait, took a bite and now I will take a bite of it.

Thank you Mr. Tuna for finding my bait, now I will digest you and do it following Jewish dietary laws.

THE MIRACLE OF A FAMILY WHO ARE FAMILY FRIENDS

Having a family as your friends. Someone to call on the phone who will answer, someone to visit, someone to write, someone to mail a letter, someone who will always have a bloodline tie to you.

Someone who knows you and has known you for many years, often since babyhood, longer than any outside friend has known you.

Family as friends in good times and bad. Someone who will lend you money and not charge you interest. Someone who shares other members of the family as their close contacts too and family who are friends with them too.

Someone who will celebrate your birthday year after year and be at a family funeral. Someone who knows how you tick. Someone to who you do not have to prove yourself. Someone who is as stable as a rock. A family who is friendly, a family who cares, a family who never leaves. A family of family friends.

WHAT MAKES A DAY A GREAT DAY

A mother's voice, calling like a coo, wrapping a nurturing warming arm around my body, singing a song into my ear, whispering wishes of wonderment, calling like the sea, flipping around me like a blanket, over my shoulders like a tallit, cool refreshing water in my mouth flowing deeply, satisfying all thirsting, sweetly humming, cradling on her lap in a rocking chair.

Reassuring, diplomatic truthfulness, believed in, not slandered, gossip hushed, swaying back and forth in dance and song, rock music beating my heart according to its bass, hushing my crying, understanding, binah, chesed, lovingkindness, nourishment, a kiss on the mouth.

Being fed, my portion appropriated according to my needs, filling my desires, a beat that swings my knees, a sound like no other, the soothing sound of my mother and my father's protection and flattery, an electric current that charges all my batteries, a taste in my mouth of deliciousness, a pair of lips smeared with tasty lip gloss, vitamins in the morning, cake instead of bread.

How was your day? Great! Can you prove it?

THE MIRACLE OF NO MIRACLES

Dealing with life as a predictable occurrence and not always to seek a display of fireworks. Looking for a miracle in everything and having miracles happen constantly is just not a natural occurrence. If one sees each daily occurrence as a norm and not a miracle, one is in a world of realness and not in a world of extremeness, and this contrast to be without miracles will lead us to appreciate real miracles that much more when they happen and when we do not expect them or look for them.

Miracles can and do exist. It can be a miracle to see life as having times when there are no miracles; to see life as a series of expected happenings, as results of normal situations, a+b=c.

Everyday presents itself with happenings and those happenings are not always miracles. We can turn lemons into lemonade or simply leave lemons as they are, to not attempt to change our environment but instead to live with it, to live besides it, to accept our lot in life and not to pretend it is what it isn't. To just be and to exist in truthfulness and honesty and to accept what is and appreciate that some of life is not a miracle--thanking G-d for life's sameness, mundaneness, and steady regularity.

This way we can appreciate a miracle when it happens and this will really be a true and exciting thrill.

STRONG LIKE BULL ON A SUNDAY

Sunday morning strength, feeling muscles rippling, breathing deeply, legs calves flexing, standing during the Amidah, moving my ankles in kedosh, kedosh, kedosh, tightening my tefillin around my left arm like a horse's bridle, steam engines gushing and spraying, Hebrew chanting peaceful and enunciated with a wide mouth, every letter said, every vowel, every consonant, sounding rhythmical as music.

Strength on a Sunday after resting on a Saturday, Sunday a business day, a day of movement after a day of stillness. A quiet day, a day to produce, a day to work, a day to write, a day to study Torah--Abraham and Sarah and Isaac and Lot and his daughters escaped, survived the drowning and then the fire and brimstone destruction of the cities of evil. G-d saved them, the cities went under. We kiss our tzitzit and rejoice in Psalms 66-68 this week. A week of singing, of happiness, our enemies are wiped off the face of the Earth, and our families survive--thank G-d for this.

Flexing strong legs, tapping feet to Jewish davening, fed and watered, B vitamins digesting, full night's sleep, a bright moon but a dark bedroom, fullness, satisfaction, connected synapses of cyberspace, Torah portion for this week under our belt, fully in the milieu, ready for everything, prepared for anything. Feeling all the energy of the sun as it shines warmly and peacefully on my soaking skin, lotion softening, heart of compassion, studying, teaching, performing mitzvoth.  

THE LUCKY SHABBAT BRIDE

Prayers answered, tides changed, winds blew the other way, rain did not whet, cold did not freeze, heat did not scorch.

Ran with the cowboys, wishes came true, no worries or complaints, nothing taking me down.

Wicked persecuted, hate disappeared, winning the battle, brutal wars no more.

Sunlight from window, water cooling throat, scented lotions smelling as flowers, kindness within--solidly, firmly, securely.

 Small stones not heavy as rocks.

Music blaring, becoming delightful, songs keep comin'.

Feathers in my cap, no holes in my shoes that cannot be filled.

Sandy beaches exciting and as calming as couches.

Lake Michigan water waves as friends, wildlife listening as I dance, softness in pillows when I want to sleep.

Dreams not nightmares, nighttime blankets warmer, food tastier, breathing easier.

Shabbat Shalom's bride will be mine.

THE MIRACLE OF EATING KOSHER FOODS

It is a miracle to be eating kosher foods. To get 3 kosher meals per day, and have each meat meal 4 hours apart from a dairy meal. It is a miracle to eat all kosher snacks in between meals. It is miracle to know that the cow that made our hamburger was not killed in a manner that caused it pain. That the slaughtering process was humane and the process is being inspected by Rabbis regularly.

It is a miracle to know that a blessing was said at the cow's time of death, so that the cow's soul could be elevated in our bodies at the time we eat it and digest it.

It is a miracle to know that there was no pork at all anywhere in the facility of the slaughtering house. It is a miracle to be able to trust this, to feel like it is all bona fide. To know that there will not be a speck of impurity in what you are about to eat, that there is no temptation to resist, that it is all true and good.

It is a miracle to find a hechsher, a marked symbol of kosher food, on a package. It is a miracle to know what is kosher and what is not, whether it is marked with a hechsher or not.

It is a miracle to eat an egg that is not a fertile embryo. Where hens and roosters do not come in contact, a pure henhouse with only hens living together--no spot of blood in the yolk. A pure and kosher egg.

It is a miracle to count on this, to have it available. It needs to become more available, more widespread, having more grocery stores participate in the stocking of kosher foods and kosher meats. It is a miracle when a grocer can say he sells kosher foods. He will truly be rewarded unlike his competitor who does not stock them. G-d sees all, and rewards the righteous, we can believe this.

 Enjoy your miracles as you eat your kosher foods. Serve them to your friends. And be joyous in knowing your spiritual state will be elevated, and that you are enjoying a heaven on Earth.

THE MIRACLE OF MORNING COFFEE

Moving my tongue around the inside of my mouth, tasting the last drops of a delicious deeply strongly brewed cup of hot morning coffee. A cup of coffee like no other, fuel for my fires, complete satisfaction from the darkness of the coffee bean lightened up with a swish of non-dairy creamer, stirred around, and covered inside a Styrofoam cup with a plastic lid.

Every dear morning I drink this brew, not a witch's brew, but an athlete winner's energy drink, some caffeine but not too much. Stirring it around and around and watching the creamer dissolve in the blackness turning it to a light brown, like the skin of a South American native. Aaaahhh... coffee, not to have to do without you, you my dearest are my warmth in the morning, my buzz before I start my work, my inhalation, my every wish, my good feeling.

Coffee, I will call you my closest friend, as you are always there for me. The after-taste has completely encompassed me in rejoicing. I had what I needed and I can have it again. Every morning you are there for me, and everyday I love you, not taking you for granted. Thank you, Mr. Coffee, I will drink you again and again.

HANDS CLAPPING AND DRUMS BEATING--SONGS SINGING

It is a miracle to be in the middle of merry-making, to be an observer and participant in a world of dancing and clapping. Microphones everywhere and everyone gets to sing in them. Hearing singing loudly, everyone knowing the right words to the songs, everyone getting a chance to belt out a melody.

Electronic speakers tuned loudly, vibrating and making noise, but noise that is pleasing to the ears. Everyone united in song, songs we have all heard before, hand clapping, foot stepping, sweet soprano voices complemented by bass and tenor voices--everyone singing, no one exempt.

Everyone is heard and everyone gets a chance to express  him/herself. Music that everyone likes, tunes that are considered popular and are well-known, heard before many times and are all inclusive.

No one has to be silent, everyone can sing it out, needing no one's approval, not being judged, no one is valued as better than anyone else, everyone is accepted and no one is left out. Singing is for all--connection with beautiful sounds-a glorious world where everyone in it is family. Clap your hands and ring out the tambourines, pound on the drums and get well deserved attention. Music is for all.

THE MIRACLE OF A SEPHIROT BALANCE

Communing with the greatest G-d in the 2,000 universes that are all around us, far from us, in the midst of us. Touching pearly white desk table tops, gazing at bright yellow barrier walls. Lightness in my body coming from all over: lamps and windows, soft white light, yellow light, light with a blue tinge: warmth, nurturing.

When we have a need, our needs can be overcome and we then become sated. In a state of unrest, soon to be sated again. Searching and trying to find, searching ending and finding taking place, never short, always fulfilled as happiness is within, not caused by an external environment. Happy with one's lot.

Going nowhere, not needing to get anywhere, not needing to be in a different place, not making a change, not traveling, not suffering upheavals, settled. Always moving in a Hebrew chant, a Cantor's voice resounding indefinitely, always singing. Dancing as I step--shomer shomer goy echad. Knowing the Hebrew words, memorization. The holy Cantor is singing to me, his voice calms like lake water, excites like lava from a volcano, balances like a scale bouncing from side to side, coming clear to me with an answer to every question.

Sephirot completed. All points in action. Feeling their significance, going with their flow. Numbers increasing as wealth becomes inconsequential, needing less, so having more. A little bit goes a long way. Not allowing another to be a judge, always being one's own leader, never floating on the sea without a paddle, bravely diving into deep waters and swallowing salt. Not a dead sea.

Another day, another dollar, another time to rejoice and be thankful for everything that comes  along. Justice will be had, goodness will abound. Following your own heart, your own mind, and slowly but surely being one with the music. Improving a little bit everyday, in areas where you not others want to see improvement. Everyday improve a little bit more, so perfection will be near in sight, and as a reward you will enjoy a reaping of a healthy harvest as an autumn gift from The Almighty and eat and drink to content.

DAVENING DEEPLY ON A SUNDAY MORNING

It is a miracle to soar into the Heavens each morning because I daven with a Cantor to the prayers/blessings in the Jewish Conservative Siddur: Sim Shalom. Gadol which means great. Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, which means holy, holy, holy. Having the Cantor's voice penetrate my very being, soothing me, forcing out all impurities and any evil. The Hebrew chant vibrates my bones, as I cry "Hashkivenu, Adonai!"--and the Cantor leads me in my chant: strongly, fully, consistently. Sweetly we sing together, and our "incantations" purify my mind, soul, and my heart. The steady rhythmical beat of the chanting keeps me steady on my feet, but humble too, as I lean on only one leg during the Amidah--keeping in tune with the universe as a member of the world, being devoted to its improvement.

This davening is miraculous! All it takes is daily meditation and prayer to keep a  person on track with involvement in goodness through praising the Divine. I thank the Cantor with his miraculously beautiful voice for taking me by the hand and guiding me through the holiness of this world--the great integrity of his voice being a sign from G-d--as my voice chimes in with his and we become one as our voices combine and intertwine, becoming one with G-d, with the one and only one G-d: HASHEM.