Spirituality — Page 2

You Can’t Keep Hating People…

May 30, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

CLICK here for the Feature Video—The Flags of Their Fathers— by CBS Sunday Morning.

“You can’t keep hating people”… but some people do and to who’s expense?

“At the time that was my job and I could not question that.”

“Kept it Locked inside…”

“Ghost of long ago enemies…”

“I have never been there,” said the son but haven’t we all been there in our personal life?

Justified, rationalized, in denial that our resentment and anger was the right thing to do at the time?

We don’t have to keep hating people…

We don’t have to keep hating ourselves…

We can turn the spoils of our lives into the fertilizer that enables peace, joy and freedom to grow from within creating a whole new life for ourselves, our loved ones and the people we connect with for the rest of our lives.

They aren’t justified memories of hatred… they are self-created, self-imposed prison bars containing our innate spirit to grow, to love and to be a part of the an emerging next-generation worldwide humanity of our times.

Separation in life from others we love and need is good in life as far as it goes for a limited time only.

Nothing is forever except in death and beyond that it is all forever.

Can you see beyond what seems to be in your life?

It is better to give than receive…

It is better to look within… be selfish for awhile… and grow to love yourself…

It is better to learn how to accept, love and be compassionate to yourself…

And then be accepting, loving and compassionate towards every other human being on our home planet Earth…

Is it time to go within and find the True Self of your birth destiny? To re-discover and re-energize the Eternal Child Within?

And then go outside and play in the world?

Something is wrong with me and that is okay as long as I come out of denial; out of the self-justificating, self-rationaling, and self- distinguishing world of hate of myself, others and the world in general.

I maintain if we put one human being from each country of the world in a confined space with limited resources we would not kill each other but help each other to survive—you and I would figure it out, we would figure it out of love…

Yet the governments and religions that we have constructed between us have not…

Something is wrong…

We have yet to figure out the mystery of ourselves, yet to figure out why and to stop killing one another on the battlefields and in our own back yard.

That is the logical and emotional solution.

Someday this will become the Church of TROML but first if you are like-minded (love life, love your country and love the world but don’t accept the insanity within or outside your self) let’s start growing together in the right direction.

Our circular leadership of the past has always brought us to the same realization:

“You can’t keep hating people,”… so why do so in the first place?”

Have a TROML Day today!

Your Personal Revivalist,

Anonymous Andy

Filed Under: From the TROML Journals, Sources of Inspiration, Spirituality

It’s all about the Connections in our Beliefs…

May 29, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

Hallelujah and Namu Myoho Renge Kyo

Editor’s Note:

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo means Glory to the Sutra of the Lotus of the Supreme Law and is the central mantra chanted within all forms of Nichiren Buddhism.

Hallelujah is a transliteration of the Hebrew word הַלְּלוּיָהּ, which is composed of two elements: הַלְּלוּ (an exhortation to “praise” addressed to several people) and יָהּ (the name of God) and is generally translated as “Praise be to God.”

I have a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, which is a fancier way of saying: “I see the connections in everything.”

I believe that connections exist everywhere, all the time, and it is our privilege as humans—if we want to grow and expand our knowledge—to find these connections.

I was born a Roman Catholic and baptized, and received my first Holy Communion. Then a major change in my family life occurred. Oddly enough, I was the child who started this roller coaster ride when I came home one day and asked my dad why we didn’t read the Bible. Soon afterwards, my father left the Catholic Church, taking us along with him, and we became “Born Again Christians” attending a fundamentalist Baptist Church.

Since this transformation at the age of eleven, I have been mindful…more like consumed with the topic of religion, eternal life, who goes to heaven, who doesn’t and why. Is there a heaven, or is it a stream of energy in the Universe, or the now more popular term: Multiverses?

This has been a journey for over four decades. I have written a thesis on the topic and my fascination with formal religion, or a more broad way of looking at it…spirituality. I have finally decided that I categorize myself as the latter of the two. My disappointment with formalized religious doctrine, is just that. I see it as doctrine. Humans often times crave or look for rules to guide or decide which way to go. I believe that these rules should be more like guidelines. This is my personal belief. That said, I have extreme respect for all people and all religions and hope they will share their stories with me throughout my lifetime.

Anonymous Andy wrote an article on the Secret Chord…this secret chord we will strike with our life. He then went on to talk about Shrek (one of my favorite movies, for different reasons), but most of all the song, with lyrics. I got caught up in the Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah…almost to infinity, and that is what Hallelujah represents. It represents the word of all words in Christianity…Praise be to God. When all words fail us, it is this incredible chorus to sing, in repetition as a comfort. It is the chorus of Handel’s Messiah and many other hymns, I am sure many of you have sung on multiple occasions, if you are Christian.

So, there you have it. It is a mantra. I do jokingly call myself a Catholic/Buddhist. Much to my father’s dismay (if he knew), I would have to say that Catholicism is my culture, in my DNA, and impossible to dismiss completely.

I have had the chance to attend many different religious ceremonies and have felt welcomed wherever I have visited. I got the chance to chant at a Buddhist service and although I didn’t completely feel the transformation, I did feel the connection with this group for the hour I joined them in chanting. As I learned, the purpose of chanting, is to attain perfect and complete awakening and unify with the spiritual force which animates the Universe.

As humans, we are so small. Yet, we want to feel important, and that is where the Ego comes in. At times, we have to dismiss our own egos to become a part of something greater than ourselves. Something greater that leads us to another life—eternal life or this stream of eternal energy.

It’s what makes us feel less lonely on this planet. Yes, so, I do get the organized religious stuff. We crave a sense of belonging. We want to grow and expand our knowledge—to find these connections.

Filed Under: Buddhism, Guest Contributors, Spirituality

So inspired by Church this Morning…

May 26, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

From Paul the Apostle to the Galatians (5:13-25) we have “the Works of the Flesh,” the list of 15 should not do in life—fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factious, envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. Also, a shorter list of 8 of “the Fruit of the Spirit”—joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control with the differing comment that there is no law against such things. Or I would add that the first list that there is no human law in our world of free will to not choose what we will choose at any point in our life.

In the Gospel of Luke (9:51-62) Jesus, setting face towards Jerusalem (and the Crucifixion), simply asks us in His own way to “follow Me.”

In the beginning and end of the priest’s sermon our prayer for courage and strength to love and follow Jesus with gladness and single-mindedness of our hearts. If He is the primary pursuit of our faith journey then everything else comes second and works out just fine. I have experienced this at times in my life especially early on growing up impacted by the disease of alcoholism and later in life and more recently in recovery from the disease of compulsive overeating and sugar addiction. “I can’t fix that” transforms to “with God and Jesus I can,” were the words of the priest. Is a faith journey a primary purpose in your life? If so, what is the true primary purpose of that faith journey? These questions, at times, are difficult for me to answer.

“Finding the right balance” in life is why I seek a spiritual journey in life. It is difficult in the world we live in. Yes it is but we need to question our denial, our rationalizations and our justifications in our life. What is the truth of our human being, what is the true purpose of our life?

The priest referenced the 2015 Charleston Church Shooting where nine beautiful souls were lost. How the remaining victims and their family and loved ones were now more focused on the grace and love of Christ and not being sucked into hate from the traumatic experience. On their “Journey of Awakening” they are learning how to pray for the shooter that he experience God’s mercy and forgiveness to live a different life and to be able to tell a different story with the rest of his life.

The Children’s Talk where the kids go up on the altar and here a more childish version of the gospel had a special message for me this morning. Actually I usually connect closely with the message to the children, maybe it is the Eternal Child Within? The kids’ translation was simply put as a prayer when confronted with something we don’t like in life.

“God, can you help me to see this (experience in my life) in the way You see it?”

It connect the dots once more for me in my pursuit of a “Splendid Spiritual Self” and the “?4 Ask God 4?” translation from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous where I ask God four things in times of crisis (anxiety, indecision, contemplating a slip in abstinence)— to free me of my self & selfishness; to direct my thinking, to inspire my decisions and to show me the next step to take in the moment.

How can we think, how can we be more like God in our lives?

After the mass (or service), there is more interpretation and a question and answer session with the rector. There are usually ten or so questions asked and I love this part of my morning spiritual experience because I learn so much more about the Word of God and realize we are all imperfect and struggling a bit at times to get through this experience we call life. More dots are connected in my mind and more importantly in my “Splendid Spiritual Self.”

We are spiritual beings first that the world has duped us into not believing this. Some spend their whole lives denying this but in the end it can be suppressed but not denied. Hopefully and eventually we all come to this realization in life.

I formulated a question as the discussion went on and was surprised at the end that there was silence when the audience was asked for another question. I took this as a Godsend and asked my question. Making reference to the two lists above, I commented that we all come to a place of acceptance and realization the we are not God in our lives or the lives of others and as human beings we die. It seemed to me that our experience will follow Jesus’ experience in that we all ultimately die. I didn’t say it but that is indeed true, that we all share one thing in common without except— we die! But nobody talks about it to any great degree or minimally likes to talk about it. So you would say, as others did, hey where is the question in that?

Here’s the question I asked of the rector: When you look at “the rest of your life,” what comes to mind, what will Jesus say to you in your 60s, 70s, and 80s that is different than what He is saying to you today? Always a TROML question from me!

I loved and was inspired by his response, first making reference to the first list as things we do when Jesus is not first in our lives and that the reality is that the second list spills out into our life from a God-centered life. As to my 60s, 70s, and 80s question he does not think that way, mainly because he isn’t there yet age wise. As he continues his journey, he will grow more in God’s grace and love and shared that he wants to always be a person that believes in wonders, that he is intrigued by people who have lost their sense of wonder. Why have they lost their sense of wonder of life?

Have you lost your sense of wonder?

For me, as inspired as the morning was, the real inspiration came when an older gentleman in his 80s came up to me afterwards and tapped me on the arm. He looked up and looked me in the eyes and said that in his 60s he was focused on transitioning into retirement. In his 70s he began walking closer with God. As he told me about his 80s he turned and motioned to his wife saying that he continues to walk closer taking big steps and that it is overwhelming how much he loves his wife today.

I connected with his spiritual insight as though I am single today when I pray and ask, and meditate and listen, I hear God sharing that I will be married by the time I am 60 which is only a few years off. Which reminded me of my neighbor the other day sharing what his wife wanted him to share with me. Reminding me that I said that I will be married in 1-1/2 years. Evidently six months ago I said I would be married in two years. But I don’t remember that as I always thought I heard 3 to 4 years which would be 60 for me!

LOL, when and to whom will God direct me to? I do know one thing that will be required. That she and I put our relationship with God first and foremost above all else and that No. 2 on the list will be our marriage and each other.

I left to go back out in the world I heard the message from today. Courage and strength for gladness and single-mindedness of God’s love, grace and mercy. I hope to live the rest of this day in an abstinent manner in peace, joy and freedom.

Plus I will ask God to help me to see my tragedies and successes in life in the moment in the way he sees them and act accordingly.

For I am my True Self, with God within me with my Trusting Ego, an Eternal Child Within…

Have a TROML Day today!

Your Personal Revivalist,

Anonymous Andy

Filed Under: Christian, From the TROML Journals, Sources of Inspiration

Happy Mother’s Day!

May 8, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

I was very blessed to be with my Mom for 42 years of her life. I wish I could have been with her for longer as she was a dear beautiful woman that everybody loved right along with me. Her love, passion for and curiosity of life remains with me today. I miss being with her but I don’t miss her. As far as I am concerned my mother was a saint and my father a hero to me in life and beyond. I am grateful for not only the gift of life they gave me but for all the inspiration too!

CLICK here for a Video Tribute to My Saintly Mother…

My Mom is a saint and an inspiration to me. She never stopped loving Dad or anyone else she ever knew, her whole life through. In fact, her love of aging people as a Senior Center Supervisor and her curiosity about life was the seed we planted and nurtured together that grew into the TROML process. We were close and shared many thoughts and feelings, especially after Dad died. I was inspired to capture her way of looking at life so I asked her to start writing down the story of her life. This turned into the beginning of the TROML book. Sadly, she died late the night before the September 11th tragedy in 2001. Looking back, my personal and professional world changed drastically within those few hours. Life would never be the same nor looking back would I want it to be.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms and Mom Memories out there in the world!

I love you Mom!

Your loving son…

Filed Under: Other Beliefs & Holidays, Sources of Inspiration

Introducing Shivani & her Ayurvedic & Natural Remedies…

April 22, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

“Ayurveda, what’s that,” was my thought when I was invited to an Earth Day-Full Moon Evening Retreat featuring yoga, meditation and Shivani Gupta. I participated in the retreat and was introduced to Shivani’s Ayurvedic and Natural Remedies so I am taking this opportunity to introduce you!

Ayurveda (Sanskrit meaning “life-knowledge”) is a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. A holistic approach rooted in Vedic culture, Ayurveda had a role in early Hinduism which explains its hallowed place in India. The main classical Ayurveda treatises begin with legendary accounts of the transmission of medical knowledge from the Gods to sages, and thence to human physicians. Globalized and modernized practices derived from Ayurveda traditions are a type of complementary or alternative medicine. In the Western world, Ayurveda therapies and practices have been integrated in general wellness applications and in medical use.

Shivani Gupta was born and raised in Houston, Texas to a loving traditional Indian family. Throughout her entire life, her father–a complete health nut–taught her about healthy eating, organic foods, effective supplements, and fortifying the body to have the best health. Through these lessons, she learned the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, nutrition, exercise, prevention, optimism, and self-care. Shivani has been independently studying Ayurveda for over ten years. She planned the Hindu University of America Conference on Ayurveda ten years ago. Today, she is finishing her Ph.D. in Ayurvedic Studies. Today, Shivani is ready to share her knowledge and experience with the world.

Her seminar was fascinating and included a survey which resulted in identification of my constitution—was I vatha (space/air), or was I pitha (fire/water), or was I kaptha (earth/water)? Like most guys I was primarily kaptha. The designation sets into motion various ways to look at our body, mind and consciousness.

The next topic that was discussed was daily self-care. Waking up early to start the day with the sun, saying prayers before leaving bed, personal hygiene including a tongue cleanser, drinking water and gargling with warm sesame oil were all presented in the context of living life according to Ayurvedic principles.

The third section dealt with determining which herbs were needed to address people’s health, mobility, flexibility, and pain. With an entrepreneurial flair and apparent passion (she is a vibrant, beautiful and energetic woman) to be the foremost catalyst of conscious living, Shivani launched Fusionary Formulas, an Ayurvedic nutraceutical company, last year. She is the complete source of herbs from diagnosing what is needed, to supplying the needed herbs to monitoring their performance with her clients.

Shivani is one hundred percent real and I like that she references her two beautiful babies as being organic babies. It was the first time I heard that terminology but it makes sense!

I am grateful to now be aware of Ayurveda and having met Shivani Gupta.

If you are interested, please contact Shivani through her website ShivaniGupta.com

Shivani explaining her Aruyvedic and Natural Remedies. Photo Credit: Iris La Belle

An Earth Day-Full Moon Evening Retreat with Ragda (Left- Meditation), Diane (Center-Yoga) and Shivani (Right-Ayurvedic & Natural Remedies) was a transformational experience! Photo Credit: Iris La Belle

Filed Under: Hinduism, Spirituality

I am not Sorry, I am Revived, I live in Peace, Joy & Freedom. So can You!!!

April 8, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

I am sorry…

You can’t solve your problem by thinking your way out of it…

You can’t solve your problem by thinking your way out of it living in an ego-centric paradign prison.

I am sorry but that is a way of life if you so choose and there is only one way to escape that I know of after searching for over 50 years.

I am really not sorry about it but if you are thinking life sucks then you are not looking around hard enough from the way out of your misery.

I am not really sorry, I am revived.

I am not really sorry, I am revived and so can you be.

Peace, joy and freedom is attainable with any one’s life, no matter the circumstances or the person or people involved.

Peace, joy and freedom is attainable with any one’s life, no matter the circumstances or the person or people involved; absolutely, positively, without a doubt.

If a life of peace, joy & freedom is what you desire I can assist your personal revival through the TROML Process.

But only if you really want it only if you are really ready.

Is it time in your life to come to peace, joy and freedom.

Is it time in your life to experience the Ultimate Love of life, yourself, the God of your Understanding and with other people.

Let’s do TROML!

It’s available but it is your choice, your decision to proceed to a new life possible for everyone, every situation.

I wish you peace, joy and freedom in life starting today!

Have a TROML Day today!

Your Personal Revivalist,

Anonymous Andy

Filed Under: Emotional Maturity, From the TROML Journals, Spirituality, TROML Overview

‘All From One,’ Unity Amid Diversity Exhibit in South Africa…

January 19, 2016 By admin

How can we go forward together if we don’t look at our past? Photo Credit: Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST)

On Tuesday, January 19^th, 2016, Day 42 of the Golf & Life Journey to South Africa, after playing the East Golf Course of Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, I ventured up to Pretoria to do some sightseeing. What I saw was the PAST ‘All From One’ exhibit outside the Standard Bank offices in Rosebank.

You know how you know that a single brief interaction of a chance meeting with someone can change your life? Well this was one of those experiences with the ‘All From One’ exhibit and exhibit guide Gary Trower. It was brief but the seed was planted and of course the pictures taken for documentation purposes and future digestion of all the impacts.

With archaeologist Gary Trower at the ‘All From One’ exhibit in Pretoria, South Africa.

While I am not a scientist in this regard, truth be known, we all do come from the same ancestors and are 99.9% alike yet why does the world focus on our differences?

‘All From One’ is the scientific base for our spiritual unity…

Here is more from the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) website and below the words are in the pictures to follow along in the exhibit just like I did during my visit to South Africa. Images courtesy of John Gurche.

I hope that you can commit to tolerance, unity, collaboration and conservation as I did that fateful day in South Africa. We are all ‘spiritual beings living a human life,’ and ‘we are a part of nature, not apart from nature!’ TROML Baby!

THE PALAEONTOLOGICAL SCIENTIFIC TRUST (PAST)

The science of our origins reveals the shared African roots of all people. PAST uses Africa’s ancient fossil heritage to build African dignity, promote social cohesion and environmental conservation, inspire scientific curiosity among school-going youth, and establish African leadership in the sciences related to our origins.

‘Unity Amid Diversity.’ Cultural and physical differences ensure the uniqueness of every individual. Yet underlying this diversity is a deeply woven humanity common to all people.

Our Place in Nature. Africa’s fossil heritage shows that the environment played a major role in the evolution of life and humankind. If the pace and extent of environmental change is too rapid or large for species to adapt, some will go extinct.

‘Unity Amid Diversity.’ Photo Credit: John Gurche

Welcome to the website version of the PAST ‘All From One’ exhibition. The physical version of the exhibition opened on 10 November 2015 and is touring South Africa. It has thus far stood outside the Standard Bank offices in Rosebank, Johannesburg, the Soweto Theatre in Soweto, the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, and Maropeng in the Cradle of Humankind outside Johannesburg.

The exhibition is a striking structure recalling both a DNA double helix and the skeletons of two large prehistoric animals. A smaller, reconfigured version of the exhibition was produced as part of the South African Treasures exhibition at the United Nation’s World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly in Geneva in October 2016.

This website version of the exhibition contains similar information and some of the images from the two physical versions, plus additional information in “Dig Deeper” pages.

The ‘All From One’ exhibition draws on scientific evidence about our shared human origins and the shared origins of all life forms in order to challenge commonly held ideas about humankind and our place in nature.

You will see that you are unique, but that you share strong bonds of similarity with all other people, based on a deeply rooted common humanity. As a species, you will see we are but one twig among millions on the tree of life that sustains us all.

All told, you will see that shared origins is a potent force for tolerance, unity, collaboration and conservation.

[Show slideshow]

Filed Under: Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhism, Christian, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Muslim/Islam, Other Beliefs & Holidays, Sources of Inspiration, Spirituality

All Spiritual Orientations Warmly Welcomed to TROML!

November 23, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Whatever your religious or spiritual orientations are or if you have none at all, you are hereby warmly welcomed to TROML. I am interested in exploring the similarities and differences in the various religions and spiritualities with the goal of a great understanding of our humankindness and our unifying common and powerful spirituality. Maybe even breaking through with a global revival to work through our differences and come to a world-wide peace where no human being is killing another human being no matter their location, no matter the situation anywhere in our shared world. I believe this is possible in the not too distant future.

Can you help me pursue this endeavor to change our world?

Will you help me by writing anonymously about your beliefs and those of your religion, whatever it may be, even if you do not believe in any religion?

I am looking for open-minded, honest and reasonable people, like myself to share their religious and spiritual experience, strengths and hope. I will post them on Personal Revivalist and we can go from there. Great journeys and great changes are taken with a first step. Please consider taking a first step with me today.

Specifically, I am looking for contributors for:

Judaism

Islam

Hinduism

Christinaity

Chinese Philosophy

Buddhism

Atheism

Agnosticism

Twelve Step Programs

Other Spiritual Beliefs

Please contact me at AnonymousAndy@PersonalRevivalist.com and let me know what you think!

Have a TROML Day Today!

Your Personal Revivalist,

Anonymous Andy

Filed Under: Spirituality

Happy Arbor Day; I Want to Be a Tree Too!

April 29, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

I look forward to my retirement years up on a mountain in my hometown overlooking the intersection of two rivers and their valleys. It’s a beautiful wooded place to be. Ever since I started yoga back in the late 1990s and bought that piece of property I have imagined myself up on a little lookout platform amidst the trees doing my tree pose. I am grateful for trees. I want to be a tree too!

A few years ago i was invited by a friend to a Tree Ceremony on Arbor Day and ever since it has become a passage of Spring for me. My schedule is a little different than most and this time of year is my downtime when I am back home for a few months and recharging the batteries. Connecting with nature and in particular one Grandmother Tree gets my energetic and restorative fluids flowing.

“In gratitude for all trees that sustain life on Mother Earth. Unite with thousands of others throughout the world restoring balance in our environment, and reconcile humanity’s relationship with trees. Active expressions of gratitude are the seeds of healing and nourishment for Mother Earth. As the smallest stone initiates unending ripples in a pond, this collective ceremony initiates a far reaching vibration of gratitude and healing for all trees.” Is how the invitation reads.

This year’s Tree Ceremony was more than a ceremony, it was a moving experience!

It took me out of my Western mindset so I could be a simple human being without the need to be active or to control our sacred environment. I went back to ancient times of the Plant Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom when they peacefully coexisted before there was a Human Kingdom on Earth. Luckily both their natures are not to give up and they have chosen to persevere and support our human race.

There was a cleansing prelude rite before entering the sacred space of the Grandmother Tree. A story of pain, turmoil and grief was told making amends for the ignorant destruction of the sister trees of Grandmother Tree. It seems as if peace has come to this part of the forest, there is healing and renewed energy and vibrations. Two screeching red-tailed hawks flew overhead on cue to signal a new positive balance of animals, plants and humans in this heart of the woods. Though no more chickens are present on the family farm thanks to the Bobcat.

Once cleansed and perfumed by the incense, our human spirit entered the sacred spiritual sanctuary of Grandmother Tree passing by ten lighted candles and moving through a gate of colorful poles. The assembly encircled her humongous trunk as if that was our innate human desire. We read a blessing three times and summoned the energies of the wind, water, fire and earth from all four directions to join us honoring this magnificent creation of nature. We chanted “Earth my Body, Water my Blood, Air my Breath and Fire my Spirit as Godesses and Gods have done throughout time. Collectively and then individually we sprinkled her roots with water and decorated her with colorful ribbons. A beautiful ceremony and healing experience around Grandmother Tree.

As we lingered in her presence I noticed the palm trees shooting upward in her midst. Though not as tightly interwoven as the Love Trees found in St. Augustine, where beneath them a kiss seals a romance for eternity, these were more of a parental guiding and securing love. A love of mutual respect amongst the plants, animals and humans.

I felt that special love of nature today. The love I hope that will carry me through the rest of my life back to my hometown trees close to Heaven. I hope Grandmother Tree felt our love today and has a prosperous year between now and when we will gather in her honor again.

Happy Arbor Day!

Filed Under: Other Beliefs & Holidays, Spirituality

Shalom! Happy Passover!

April 22, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

The story of growing up with dear Jewish neighbors is presented here to celebrate this beautiful Jewish Holiday! What loving memories come back from my childhood. Looking back we were fortunate to grow up learning how to love our neighbors no matter how different they were from us…

Once Mom and Dad were fully moved in to the house, all their efforts crystallized and they knew that every second spent scraping, painting, and papering was worthwhile. They were a young couple in love, with two children and their own home. So many people in their situation could not afford a private house. My parents realized how fortunate they were to be able to live on their own after having spent so much time in a communal environment. They decided early on that their children would get their own places once they married, even if it meant being crammed into an efficiency apartment. Birds need to leave the nest and learn to fly on their own.

That keep-in-the-kids fencing played a major role in introducing them to their first neighbor. Mrs. Z. lived across the street. She needed an extra piece of fencing for her yard, so she welcomed my parents to the neighborhood and asked them if she could buy whatever Dad didn’t need. My parents and the Zs quickly developed a friendship that lasted their whole lives. They watched over each other’s kids and chatted on each other’s front porches during the pleasant summer nights.

The Zs were the first Jewish people my parents ever knew. Mr. and Mrs. Z. shared their religious traditions with my parents, who returned the favor by teaching the Zs about Catholicism. Holidays became very special occasions for the families. They exchanged traditional baked goods and spent time together. Every time Mom came home from the hospital after having a baby, Mrs. Z. would be over with a bottle of red wine to build up my mother’s blood cell count. In fact, Mrs. Z. became so dear to my family that once my maternal grandmother passed away, Mrs. Z. filled the role of surrogate grandmother for my siblings and me. She lived to be over 100. When she passed, everyone in my family felt as if we’d lost our grandmother all over again…

More on Passover from Wikipedia…

Passover or Pesach, is an important, biblically derived Jewish festival. The Jewish people celebrate Passover as a commemoration of their liberation by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses. It commemorates the story of the Exodus as described in the Hebrew Bible especially in the Book of Exodus, in which the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. According to standard biblical chronology, this event would have taken place at about 1300 BCE. (AM 2450).

Passover is a spring festival which during the existence of the Jerusalem Temple was connected to the offering of the “first-fruits of the barley”, barley being the first grain to ripen and to be harvested in the Land of Israel.

It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays.

In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God helped the Children of Israel escape from their slavery in Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the ancient Egyptians before the Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the death of the Egyptian first-born.

The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord knew to pass over the first-born in these homes, hence the English name of the holiday.

When the Pharaoh freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread dough to rise (leaven). In commemoration, for the duration of Passover no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason Passover was called the feast of unleavened bread in the Torah or Old Testament. Thus Matzo (flat unleavened bread) is eaten during Passover and it is a tradition of the holiday.

Shalom! Happy Passover!