ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: FEB. 2022
The greatest challenge is to have the courage to change
those things which we can and should be changed, and the serenity of and to
accept those which we cannot.
This passage is taken from THE SERENITY PRAYER by Reinold
Niebuhr.
‘BIDUD’: ISOLATION
My feelings: not really happening to me; wow, time for me
alone to be, to read, to rest, to not be dressed,-to stay in pajamas: time
suddenly found to read, to eat, to rest, to think, to ponder, to watch and/or
listen to the news, etc. – I have received a ‘present’ of time for me to use as
I please! Not just what I MUST DO! On
the other hand, I worry , as I do have
quite a sniffle, and have tissues on hand everywhere I am in my home. TIME to
think back about my parents and their end of life period, how they persevered,
and did I really understand where they were at, or could I really understand
the feelings of aging and facing medical issues and the prospect of dying
hovering about? How I wish that I had the insight back then to understand better
where my parents individually felt about their future and status. When I put on
music that my mother loved, I cry as she cried way back then, ‘A YIDDISHE MAMMA’,
I cried with my mother, about my mother, and how my own children somehow cannot
understand how I and others of my age feel—apprehensive about what is/may come,
and how we can leave them and not know
what lies in their future and be there with them to share in the good and the
difficult times. Not to see my great grandchildren, let along my grandchildren
graduate, get married, have babies. I WANT TO BE HERE through it all! But, that’s not the way the world works. We each have our
time on earth, no matter how good we are-Hashem takes the best of us and the
rest of us as well. Our time is LIMITED. I pray to be able to keep giving to
others, by calling, by writing, by my prayers, by my visits-in person, by e
mail, by zoom, by whatsapp, by my phone calls.
BIDUD tells me that whatever is, IT IS WHAT IT IS! G. bless
us all within our time period of life allotted to us. I already long for and
miss what I will eventually miss in my little world. G. BLESS us all!
PART 2:
HOW CAN WE STOP WORRYING and ACCEPT THE LOCKDOWN:
I know that each one of us must find our way of coping with
this BIDUD situation. Some suggestions for all of us to ponder:
We can begin to appreciate our family more intensely, as many have tragically
succumbed to the disease. We are beginning to understand that LIFE SHORT, AND
MUST NEVER BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
Because of the lack of entertainment centers, we can learn
to entertain ourselves by being creative. We can read more because we now have
the time. We can write/draw more. We can choose to cook for ourselves, and can
experiment with new dishes. We can ‘work out’ our own exercise regimes. One of the
greatest joys come on Shabbat and Holidays. Once the clock is in SHABAT mode, SERENITY
starts. We can pray at all times and not worry if we are falling behind as a chazzan
chants on the bimah. We can sing, learn together, discuss issues without the
thought of having to elsewhere on this precious day.
Perhaps this new world, with all its worries and anxieties is
actually G. giving us a GIFT OF TIME, to
connect with Him more, to talk to Him! The less pressure to be here, there,
everywhere, eases our time to connect and be with G. We can ponder our purpose here on this
planet-is this really a blessing for we humans, to learn simplicity in time and
thought? I ask for all of us ’what and how can impact our attitude toward life
and those we love? Maybe we should be embracing this lockdown and seek and find
more serenity within our own borders of “home”. What can we do that we, in ‘normal’
times, we can find no time for e.g. pondering, relaxing, finding “time” to be
creative-art hobby, cooking beyond the rush to put two items together, to read,
and ponder the universe, to really enjoy your home, such as it is. You are
within, somewhat protected, you can relax both mind and body and just ‘BE’! We
can reach out to others, by phone, by fax, by e mail, and send out warm
thoughts to the ‘other’. How good it is to send out our warmth and love and
caring to others- I am always so pleasantly surprised and extremely warm and
happy when I see their replies. G. bless us all as we face our present and
future, with no guarantee of what will be, as in reality, without this
pandemic, we don’t know what lies ahead individually and as a people in g.’s
world, in 2022 and beyond.
G. bless all of us. Until we meet again in March, 2022.
CHW
