2023 In Review

Merry Christmas!

As we compose this letter thinking of family and friends and listening to Larnelle Harris Christmas and other vintage CDs, sentimental thoughts flood in. We remember the reason why years ago we began these yearly writing productions. As newlyweds (a few years ago!) a family in our church wrote yearly Christmas letters. Those letters were inspiring.

Schoolteacher Martha’s Christmas letters were amazing grammatical and technical feats. She manually created them using a typewriter, before the beginnings of personal computers or laptops and printers and the internet or email. She literally cut and pasted together paragraphs and pictures like a puzzle onto a physical master, then her husband’s family business (a professional printing company, like today’s graphic arts businesses) made copies. As a married couple, they were able to co-produce family letters like few others could in the late 1970s. Our letter is simpler and much less painstaking to create, but like Martha, we share our hearts. 

This was the year we spent acclimating back to a more normal post-COVID lifestyle, still watching our favorite shows Survivor and Amazing Race and too many Hallmark movies but feeling more settled. COVID brought us down in February, but we swiftly bounced back. The entire world is bouncing back. It has been the year of singer/songwriter Taylor Swift. Thousands of Swifties flock to her concerts and now she is Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. It is nice to have the energy of America and the world back again!! For us, regular rides on the train to Philly and much-needed daytrips to the beach with outlet mall shopping are tailor-made therapies. 

Diane decided to brave joining Planet Fitness in March. Equipment germs and COVID kept her away from any workout place for 3 years. With muscle-building workouts four times a week and powerwalks at least twice a week she’s no Wonder Woman, but she keeps moving. Jeff still enjoys his early morning runs; he is Diane’s PF buddy, working weight machines together once a week on his day off. 

Jeff is playing “musical chairs (or offices)” at American Bible Society. His different job titles have included Manager, Sr. Manager, Director and now Senior Director. He loves new challenges and doesn’t mind traveling to Philly for work twice a week (riding the SEPTA train once a week and ride-sharing the other day). Being back in the office provides interesting “water fountain” conversations and beneficial unscheduled meetings. The remaining 3 weekdays he works from home. On his day off guess where we many times end up? (Phabulous Philly). 

Diane’s visit to Chicago was her 8th March trip in 9 years for youngest Grand’s 8th birthday (she and Nana missed attending 2021’s birthday party because of COVID; that year a life-sized cardboard Wonder Woman ordered from Amazon took our place). FaceTime calls just aren’t the same as personal visits. So, “Go” this year. We did. Calico Critter items galore were the fun theme of her birthday. 

We loved having our two kids visit us with their families in June. Two of our neighbors graciously helped bonus-daughter with a school assignment about diversity. (In August, we cheered her on via online video as she graduated with a master’s degree). Another evening the family attended a winning Phillies baseball game (before strong smoke from Canadian forest fires arrived). The biggest event was riding the Amtrak train with Nathan and Rachel to DC. We met Shayna’s family who braved busy roads and DC traffic. We toured the Capitol Building, explored the Natural History Museum with its huge dinosaurs, and of course swiftly walked to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. By 4:00 p.m. the kids were pooped! 

Diane’s 50th high school reunion in September included 3 days filled with social activities. The planning committee went above and beyond. Over 100 of Diane’s 450 graduating class attended. She felt apprehensive beforehand but was resolute in connecting with classmates like Mary, Kathy, Nancy, and Laura from way-back. It was surreal. Faces change somewhat, but the essence of her high school community remains intact. She left feeling closure and even like a therapy session had occurred, in some ways. Staying at Shayna’s before and after was an added bonus. 

For Thanksgiving we all met at Shayna’s place. Swift flights and overall festive travel on Thanksgiving Day made what could potentially have been a nightmare holiday turn into a full and meaningful day. Our family combines Thanksgiving and Christmas every odd year, so Diane calls the combo-celebration Thanks-mas. We ate delicious food and shared gifts. Frigid temps with snow and pink eye didn’t stop us from taking walks, visits with a sister, and enjoying our brief time together. 

Sikh funeral attire=white

When Jeff taught at Evangel University, yearly missions trips were taken each spring break. Jeff misses those trips to Bolivia and Argentina, etc., but now the world seems to be coming to him. Taking another Amtrak train ride, in November we met with Ukrainian religious leaders in DC as the devastating war in that country continues. In our weekly church small group Zoom meetings we regularly meet with an energetic, young Nigerian pastor living in Abuja. Also, our diverse neighborhood provides interesting experiences. Sadly, our dear 72-year-old neighbor Mr. Singh died in August. His funeral helped us learn some of the Sikh culture’s traditions, foods, and attire for their ceremonies. About a month later we attended another neighbor’s Hindu funeral at the same funeral home after the husband’s untimely death. We were there for the emergency situation, and our hearts are still sad to not see him faithfully walk friendly shih tzu "Buddy" past our house each day.

Diane enjoys visits to Longwood Gardens and learning from our neighbor about major Jewish celebrations and traditions, especially Jewish Shabbat. Currently Diane is learning Hanukkah’s background and its tradition of lighting the Menorah. 

The year 2023 is coming to a swift close. We recall the blessings of Nathan and Rachel’s move to their “forever home”, our tailor-made family times, helpful neighbors, online church with small group, good health, writing, and an interesting workplace for Jeff. 

Sadly, wars in both Ukraine and Israel continue… we pray for peace. We are thankful for God’s perfectly timed and directed gift of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. Like (but also not like) Martha’s decades-ago master sheet (the one and only original), He is our Master, Savior, and Prince of Peace. In God’s timing all things will work for good. He perhaps won’t do it in our wished-for swift timing or maybe even not in the way we want, but in His time, it will work for good.

2024 provides time for new plans and adventures. We love hearing news of friends becoming grandparents and seeing transition and travel pictures from the younger generation. Our life here is small, and states away from our roots and the ones we hold dear… but for amazing technology and Facebook. Elections are coming (yikes!) We vote for a Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!!  Love, Jeff & Diane

(Numbers 6:24,25,26, The OT Bible)

2022 Year In Review

Favorite pic of 2022

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! 

We are grateful that COVID numbers have moved from frightful to hopeful. With the recent uptick in cases, our unpopular motto this holiday continues to be to try to mask-up in crowded places. Even though a mask irritates mouth skin, and more than annoys the nose bridge, we do it mostly to protect others.

Our activities this year have been simple. With all the time at home, many have spent hours upon hours de-cluttering their spaces. And now the December issue of one magazine surprises us with the article, Life 6.0: The Joys of Re-cluttering (in moderation). The premise somewhat counters what Netflix organization guru Marie Kondo preaches: remove items not needed. The new premise that Diane happily embraces is to not be sterile but make room to re-clutter (in moderation) ... or re-clutter with items you need or really want.

For months Diane has been re-cluttering and feeling guilty about it, but now she breathes a sigh of relief. Her favorite re-clutter item is a metal tabletop abstract tree on which to hang her (grandmother-Hazel-made) 55-year-old felt Christmas ornaments and throughout the year switch out with varied seasonal ornaments. Maybe over the holidays you will discover treasured, meaningful items to re-clutter many of your homes and bring joy.

A local weekday TV talk show from which Diane receives daily gossip plus city and world news is Good Day Philly. Jeff's workplace, American Bible Society (ABS), is located directly across the street from the studio (see him through the window of the set?) Jeff continues to enjoy the challenge of full-time work and is grateful to receive a recent promotion. Riding the train to downtown Philly 3 days a week is a part of the challenge because trains do not wait! and the trips create 11-hour workdays (dawn to dusk winter days). So happily, in 2023, the number of days working in Philly will be reduced to just 2 days a week; he will work from home the other 3 days. 

Recreational visits to Philly continue, and we will post more photos than our Facebook friends probably prefer. The city's energy, historic feel, and delicious fat-filled Miller's Amish ice cream draw us again and again. Sometimes friends, neighbors, and "Joe on the Go" are found (or phound) in our Philly photos. 

Birthday visits with our children and grands are highlights of the year. Our bonus-daughter (our son’s wife) is a Cubs fan. To give respect and provide our grands and all 9 of us a professional baseball watching experience, in late-June we held tickets for a 9-inning Cubs game played at Wrigley Field to celebrate middle grand's 9th birthday. Some traveled in the family van, and adventurous ones dared to ride a Chicago L-train crowded with energized Cubbies fans. Random pop quizzes for the grands between a few innings and two Cubby homeruns with a win combined for exciting birthday memories. And the next day, it was great to have Diane's city and suburbs siblings gather for convos, picture-taking, snacking, and playing a sisters-3 +1 card game at our pseudo-reunion.

Playing the trumpet and the flute; participating in basketball, cross-country and tumbling and swimming; and pierced ears. We'll let you guess which activities pertain to which grand. Zoom calls, Vimeo, and Facetime help us to be a part of recitals and other grand activities from states away. And then there are the spontaneous Marco Polo videos. Our son received a recent promotion at AAA and his wife is working on her master's degree. Our daughter is busy managing her family and juggling a part-time job; her husband continues to work for the AMA.

A September daytrip to Springfield driving from Tulsa (thanks, chauffeurs Nathan and Rachel) to see Jeff's brother visiting from Germany, Jeff's 87-year-old Mom, and most of the rest of the family was fun as well (with brief minutes at Braum's Dairy catching up with dear friends). A few days in June and November, it was nice hosting special friends visiting the Philly area for weddings.

Diane has written short stories for our grands, with tales of their vacations and each of their births. Fun times chronicled are meaningful memories, (more for the writer than anyone else!)... even better than pictures. She wonders if the writing process can be seen as re-cluttering, because she prints some of the writings to "download" hardcopies to a binder. That is organized re-cluttering, right? 

Research and writing. Too many hours were spent learning family history. It is a different type of research that involved re-organizing and documenting early memories to help declutter and organize her childhood and also the mind. It is history that has been unearthed and is happily being laid to rest. 

Most intriguing has been learning and writing about the 8 key Jewish holidays in Leviticus 23. At year end, Diane has now officially blogged her tiny grasp of each holiday, including the integral part detective Jeff played in our neighbor's recent 2-week-long drama. Her wedding ring diamond was lost during the fall Jewish holidays, and it helped to inspire a "God wink" story that weaves in brief mentions of the 4 fall holidays, including a fun full moon twist, titled: Timing is Everything

We are grateful for health that allows us to continue lengthy and interesting walks with visiting friends and trips to the beach as well. Tiger Woods and Diane are kindred spirits. Not in age or the love of golf, but they both have the foot condition Plantar Fasciitis. Diane's therapy includes wearing foot sleeves, sometimes shorter walks, and no Mount Everest hikes. We still enjoy watching reality TV and anticipate the next season of Survivor, and we travel vicariously through watching The Amazing Race. Dream Horse is a favorite movie of the year. 

Best of all, and most of all, we worship our Savior. Our church services continue to be joined on-line and the same venue is used for leading our small group. This Christmas time of year is most meaningful, with lights everywhere to remind us that He is the saving, redeeming, restoring light in a crazy world. He brings meaning, purpose, and hope.

We miss our long-distance phamily and phriends, but we keep updated with Phacebook and Phacebook Messenger video calls. We can't all be under the same roof, but phortunately, at least we're all under the same moon! Much LOVE and a Merry Meaningful Christmas to you all and Happy New Year.

Memorable neighbor times

Fun friend times

Joseph from the Bible's New Testament
a/k/a Joe on the Go photo'd December 2022 with
American Bible Society's Hanukkiah display
Joe joins us on trips to Philly, etc.

STOP: Shemini Atzeret

Last but not least, in the fall season, Sukkot runs into Shemini Atzeret. Shemini Atzeret is the eighth, the day after 7-day Sukkot and the day on which everything STOPS. It is that which is beyond 7. We are bound by the number 7 (7 days of creation and days in a week)… 8 is beyond and a taste of eternity.

Shemini Atzeret is its own holiday, yet not quite. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei in the Land of Israel, and on the 22nd or 23rd outside the Land. It has no inherent mitzvot (commandment).

Maybe so, but probably not Sukkot. There is no biblical reference or description for Shemini Atzeret besides the commandment to set it apart as holy. It is connected to the 7 days of Sukkot, and yet stands apart as a day unto itself. The word Atzeret comes from Atzar, meaning refrain/restrain/hold back.

In both Leviticus and Numbers, God commands the eighth (shemini) day to be a "sacred occasion" and an atzeret, generally translated as "solemn gathering." Lack of verbal clarity is likely the reason why rabbinic sages seemed to struggle with the precise meaning of the holiday. Observant Jews do not work or travel on this "holy day" "My Jewish Learning.com."

My favorite description of the holy day is from "Jewish Virtual Library"..."Shemini Atzeret literally means 'the assembly of the eighth (day).' Rabbinic literature explains the holiday this way:  'G-d is like a host, who invites us as visitors for a limited time, but when the time comes for us to leave, He has enjoyed himself so much that He asks us to stay another day.' "

On the first day [of Sukkot] shall be a solemn rest,

and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.

Leviticus 23:35

 

On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly.
You shall do no ordinary work...

Numbers 29:35-38

First-Ever Trust Fall: Sukkot

Sukkot pronounced soo-kowt (also called the Feast of Tabernacles) is a very happy Jewish festival for which many families build a booth called a sukkah in their yard. It is:

• In the fall, on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (which ranges from September to October and is 5 days after Yom Kippur)
• Celebrated for 7 days (paralleled to the wedding feast)
• Like Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot, Sukkot is one of three festivals mandated by the Torah to include a pilgrimage to Jerusalem (a practice that stopped after the destruction of the temple). 

Like a "trust fall," a popular exercise done for the purpose of building trust amongst teammates, the Sukkot booth is a symbol of the Israelites performing the first-ever trust fall. As a group, they escaped slavery and Pharaoh’s rule and fell into the protection and provision of God during 40 years of travel in the wilderness. 

Jews lived in temporary sukkahs during their 40 years in the wilderness after their exodus. God determined how long the Israelites would be in each place they stopped, so the structures had to be temporary. God's supernatural provision wandering in the wilderness was evident. Shoes did not wear out, manna and quail were provided, and somehow when wandering in a barren desert, items were regularly provided for sukkah structures. As a temporary dwelling, the sukkah also represents the fact that all existence is fragile [and temporary, looking for the eternal world to come], and therefore Sukkot is a time to appreciate the shelter of our home and our bodies "Torivey.com".

A sukkah booth is a hut decorated with flowers and fruit, for a time of celebration and thankfulness, with a roof made of leaves and branches. Many families eat their meals in the booth, and some even sleep in their sukkah. Online sukkah building guides are many and varied. Some are elaborate, constructed with PVC pipes (though PCV pipes are not considered kosher) or other materials like lattice. Rules for a sukkah to be kosher include:

1. Temporary - it should be 3 walls (at least two full walls and one partial wall)
2. Enough - the bottom of the walls should be no more than 9 inches (3 "hands") above the ground
3. Minimal Distractions - if fabric is used, it should be securely fastened to the frame all around so it will not flap in the wind
4. Clear view of stars - the material that covers the roof must be composed of organic material (plant life). It should be thick enough to provide more shade than sun, but not so thick as to block out the stars at night.

During synagogue services, people wave palm branches, myrtle, and willow leaves, as well as a type of yellow citrus fruit called an etrog grouped in a bunch called a lulov (used as an early Jewish symbol and the fruit resembles a mega-bumpy lemon) to show that God is everywhere "Religions of the World: Judaism" p. 33.

Families today are overly cooped up indoors, watching television and staring at their laptops. Sukkot is a 7-day respite that appreciates the outdoors as well as encourages spending undistracted time with friends and family, remembering ancestors, communing with nature, and ultimately sensing a closeness with, and a faith and trusting in, God.

On the final evening of Sukkot, the pouring of the water is done, representing God providing needed future rains.

...You shall dwell in booths for seven days. 

All native Israelites shall dwell in booths...

(Leviticus 23:39-43)

Timing is Everything

Sukkot Full Moon, shines as bright as a diamond

This gem of a true story begins with a tired old mailbox, or maybe with a marriage since a wedding ring is involved, or maybe with the moon. Married couples “Jack and Darlene” and “Grace and Mike” are neighbors and friends. Their heroics include surviving the COVID pandemic together (including one back porch hunt-&-clip haircut to attend a grandson’s Brit Milah); tactfully dealing with an angry bulging-biceps body-building neighbor (who fortunately flew out of town months later); furnace fixes and plumbing challenges; garden excavations and nail-biting neighborhood snowplow resolutions; and other varied and sometimes comedic situations. Because a 40+-year-old wedding ring weaves into this story, sentimental feelings filter through this antics-filled “I Love Lucy” episode. But holding to hope and feeling visible are key take-aways.

Early fall is in the air, the time of trees turning skylines from shades of green to gorgeous crimson and gold. Moderate temps provide low sweat-factors, inviting even the least handy do-it-yourselfers to tackle daytime outdoor tasks. All summer long Go-getter Grace has wanted her worn 40-year-old mailbox replaced. Years ago, Hubby Mike assisted Grace’s dearly departed Dad, skillfully planting that mailbox to survive windstorms and earthquakes. 

Retired Mike is handy-impaired, and Jack isn’t handy either. How many PhD’s does it take to replace the old mailbox? At least two, but hopefully someone somewhere has nimble enough fingers to keep from accidentally dropping any of the package-provided unique nuts down into the cylinder post, to create a backlash of extra work and choice words. 

With the loan of a neighbor’s posthole digger, the two begin the task of planting the shiny new letter drop level and straight. A third set of hands happens to stroll by with his dog that is ready to christen the post, a neighbor whose fingers are nimble! The challenge is on.

It is a clear and sunny Sunday afternoon, the day after Saturday Shabbat, and at sundown begins 7-day Jewish holiday Sukkot. That bit of trivia is not trivial, because Mike and Grace observe the holiday (which parallels a 7-day wedding feast). Sukkot commemorates God’s miraculous provision for the biblical Israelites when they wandered 40 years in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. To survive, God provided daytime shade and nighttime heat for extreme desert temperatures, and sustaining daily manna and quail, and shoes that did not wear out, and materials to build temporary sukkah structures for privacy and mobility. 

In years past Mike and Grace built temporary Sukkot sukkahs with their young children. Now, their grown children have children of their own, so invites to Jewish friends’ sukkahs for yearly Sukkot meals is how they celebrate. Planting today's mailbox, provision, timing, feeling visible, and Sukkot holiday beginning at sundown; they all blend together in this story, like ingredients for a tasty Kosher soup.

Mike and Jack fumble through mixing concrete to secure the mailbox post, asking tens of times, “Is it wet enough?” like children in a car blindly questioning, "Are we there yet?"

Finally, Mike prepares to carefully scoop concrete into the slim mailbox hole. Grace and Darlene sit on the sidelines front porch providing water for the powdered mixture and cheering them on, but mostly just observing and problem-searching. “The jeweler will put a new diamond into my wedding ring this week” says Grace.

“I had hoped our cannister vacuum would suck up the diamond,” replies problem-solver Darlene.

Their dialogue about jewelers, diamonds, and (of all random things) vacuums is odd sounding but actually part of a mini-drama that has played out for 2 weeks. The backstory started when Grace lost her wedding diamond, a gem that many moons ago Meticulous Mike carefully selected for his bride (getting a deal as well). Grace lost the gem around the days of a most important fall holiday, Rosh Hashanah. 

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated annually, as the head of the Jewish year and is announced by blowing a shofar horn 100 notes to begin the two High Holy Days in fall. It is a time of contemplation and introspection and prepares Jews for the next Holy Day, Yom Kippur (the Shabbat of Shabbats and holiest day of the year) and then 5 days later follows the 7-day holiday Sukkot, with Shemini Atzeret on the tail end of four almost back-to-back fall holidays. Sadly, the precious gem was lost during the busy days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. 

Did the gem dislodge from its prongs during her youngest son’s visit for the holidays? Or did Grace lose it after one of her regular bike rides when removing her biking glove from the hand that dons the ring? Or was the gem bumped and lost some other way? Truly, finding that missing diamond, IF it could be found, would be like the odds of finding a needle in a haystack or George Bailey lassoing the moon [It's a Wonderful Life]! That tiny gem could be anywhere.

Bystanders Darlene and Jack hold to hope. At one point early on, the clever neighbors believed that surely if it fell out in the house, loaning their trusty vacuum to suck it up would work. As the gem clicked into the plastic cannister, voila! It would be found. Grace thought, “Fat chance, vacuums with no disposable bags seem like spewing dust receptacles, but at least our floors will get thoroughly cleaned...”

So, despite prejudices about cannister vacuums, Grace borrowed the dust sucker anyway and proceeded to vacuum. Sadly, no diamond. Every day Grace examined the asphalt driveway where she dismounted from her regular bike rides. No diamond, and the chances of finding it seemed slim-to-none. “It’s useless. That tiny diamond could be anywhere. I will contact the insurance company, and our jeweler can guesstimate its value.”

Jack, and sometimes Darlene, still believe the diamond will be found, somehow, someway. Months earlier, the impossible was performed for another neighbor, a retired widow, when Jack casually searched for and found her lost driver’s license in a random bush a block away. [Mr. Rogers' ¯Please won't you be my neighbor¯ is lauded by some, with Jack in mind]. So, for a while, recalling that unusual find helped Darlene vacillate between hope and “glad they have it insured.” 

A Hallmark Channel movie, set in beautiful Hawaii, about a precious gem lost in the ocean close to the shore and found after much searching inspired Darlene to continue to believe, for a while. In fact, after a walk with Grace, knee bends were not performed for exercise, stretching, or praying. With her cell phone flashlight, Darlene closely searched the grass by the backyard gate (knowing that Grace is into pulling grass, but that is another story). No diamond. “Maybe if I come over to search the grass after dark with your garage lights on…”

“Ya, too bad we haven’t found the diamond. Like I said, it could be anywhere! Fortunately, it is insured” says Grace, weary of searching.

With today’s mailbox task complete… fit neatly into its hole and most importantly, level and straight, Mike and Grace are ready to observe the holiday Sukkot. Darlene and Jack head home for Sunday evening tasks. Darlene looks forward to the beautiful evening and sitting on her back porch to view the moon. She loosely observes Sukkot, in her own non-Jewish way. Instead of building a temporary sukkah with 3 walls and a semi-airy roof to view the stars and reflect on God's provision with visual reminders of temporary, her permanent and solid-roof, screened-in back porch is adequate. She views the Sukkot full moon as it rises, peeking through a neighbor’s pine trees, bright and mesmerizing with stars twinkling in the perfectly clear skies.

Then, like a shooting star grabs one's attention, the exchange that redirects the course of that Sukkot evening occurs. “I’m coming over to bring you and Jack a treat,” texts kosher baker-extraordinaire Grace.

Darlene decides to meet halfway, walking eastward, thoroughly entranced by the full moon and striking constellations. “Let’s walk towards the Sukkot full moon, and while we’re at it, check that no one has skewed the mailbox as the concrete is setting.”

Grace captures the celestial fireball with her cell phone camera. “Wow! That is a picture!” 

Heading back, they see Jack walking towards them, with hands in his pockets and a skip in his step, like something fishy is up. Instead of meeting them, he turns left into Grace's driveway. “What are you doing?” ask the curious two.

“I am going to find that diamond!” proclaims Jack the sleuth.

Grace and Darlene follow Jack, but skeptical thoughts run rampant, “Fat chance. We have hunted lots of times, and with Hurricane Ian’s rains, and the lawnmower being run recently, too...”

Intent Jack performs yoga-like stretches, searching with his cell phone's flashlight around the parked bike inside the dim-lit garage. On the other hand, Darlene remains on the driveway, where she can see the heavens, away from the action. She still wistfully dreams of the find, yet her faith meter is dwindling. Entranced by the full moon’s radiance, her gaze can't help but drift to the moonlit driveway, "Why not look here, where I can see better.” Hers is a casual strategy that is either ditzy or wise. But yet, she is on the verge of being a random participant in an object lesson or metaphor. 

Immediately, like metal attracted to a magnetic pull, Darlene's eyes are drawn to a tiny sparkle emanating from a crevice in the gray asphalt. She does a double take, because a few days earlier in afternoon light she spotted something similar, very close to that same area, but the tease ended up being a tiny piece of worthless glass. She skeptically walks toward today’s sparkle and picks it up saying, “Probably not… surely my weak eyes are deceiving me… Maybe… Ringo! I think it is your diamond!!!”

“No way,” says Grace as she examines it. “Wow and yep… It is my diamond!!! How on earth did you see it? Mike and I both looked in that area a hundred times!”

“Let’s say it is a Sukkot miracle" replies Darlene. 

But they wonder if the diamond is damaged after being outdoors in the elements for 2 weeks. Grace scurries to show Mike the find. Days later a jeweler verifies that the diamond is in perfect condition; the insurance company pays the resetting fee; and Grace has her ring back looking as show-off shiny as on her wedding day. And her new mailbox stands straight as an arrow, too.

“Mike and I looked in that same driveway area over and over. The gray pitted asphalt has so many tight nooks and crannies. And with Hurricane Ian's days of rain, I can’t believe it didn't wash away.”

“I can’t believe it didn't wash away or get damaged or blown away by the mower," replies Darlene. 

Except for Sukkot miracles, and, after 2 weeks of failed searches, someone's crazy faith compelled one last perfectly timed full moon hunt. Grace's wedding ring looks like new, and the insurance company should send "the Ricardos" an alohim yabrech youto note for their beyond "beating the bushes" honesty. 

In hindsight, the circumstances of the find add up to more than a fluke. One way or another, a diamond was going to be reset into Grace's ring. A diamond that might have even had a higher dollar value. But isn't it more interesting that the original diamond was returned to its original setting. Like fate was involved along with something deeper. An exclamation point was added to the story for dramatic effect... approximately one hour into the first evening of Sukkot (the beginning of a celebration that parallels a 7-day Jewish wedding feast), of all days and times to see the diamond's sparkle.

All gears were already set in motion, with paperwork completed and approved to move forward in the next day or two to select a new diamond for her setting (on the insurance company's tab). A prized opportunity was almost missed, and yet the timing was perfectly right, to experience an ideal word picture or parable of what was done for the Israelites thousands of years ago. God provided for their need in the desert, when they needed and what they needed. 

And in this modern-day non-fiction, Grace (a/k/a Lucy) is reminded... God sees me and knows my need. God knows our true, today need. Not supernatural morning manna and twilight quail for sustenance, or daytime desert cloud and nighttime pillars of fire for extreme temperatures and guidance (like in the Torah)... or, a brand-new diamond (for the ending of this story)... but a Sukkot full moon and a lost diamond to combine and shine brightly for a meaningful setting to be reunited to create a celestial story about a wedding ring. 

Grace lived out a personal and stimulating Sukkot metaphor. She might one day share the non-fiction with her grandchildren titled, "I Do Love Lucy" and subtitled, "To the Moon and Back" [God wink😉]. His love and sense of humor are alive and well. With a dose or two of hope, in many situations, timing is everything. 

 

And maybe, just maybe, Jack and Darlene’s continued hope isn’t so crazy after all… the hope and timing for other “losts” to be found. The idea of lost is not limited to but does include my dreamy purpose for blogging, explained 10 years ago and trumpeted under my picture in "About Me" (see the sidebar at the top of this blog): I am finding my found.

All Aboard! Yom Kippur

Ten days ago, "Alice" purchased a ticket to ride an Amtrak train; she is running late but can still make it. If the door to the train car shuts, she is left behind. Tick, tock, tick, tock. The way recent days and hours were planned and scheduled included making that train. 

Like bookends or praying hands, the shofar
is blown on Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (At-one-ment), is the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar. To participate fully in its rituals is a ticket for blessing in the next year. Like we make resolutions at the New Year, catching that scheduled train and the journey it will take makes all the difference for blessings that are available Jews in their new year.  

Yom Kippur marks the ending of 10 days into the new year and a new beginning for those of the Jewish faith, with the belief that facing and throwing out the dirty bath water (sin) will flavor the entire next year with good. The awareness of relationships and sin weighs heavily.

"Before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem [way back in 63 BC], the high priest performed an elaborate sacrificial ceremony in the Temple, successively confessing his own sins, the sins of the priests, and the sins of all Israel. Clothed in white linen, he then entered the Holy of Holies--allowed only at Yom Kippur--to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice and to offer incense. The ceremony concluded when a goat (the scapegoat), symbolically carrying the sins of Israel, was driven to its death in the wilderness." "Encyclopedia Britannica"

"Azazel, in Jewish legends, a demon or evil spirit to whom, in the ancient rite of Yom Kippur, a scapegoat was sent bearing the sins of the Jewish people. Two male goats were chosen for the ritual, one designated by lots 'for the Lord,' the other 'for Azazel' " (Leviticus 16:8). "Encyclopedia Britannica"

The Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur is first presented in Leviticus 16, in great detail. On Yom Kippur the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the nation of Israel. It is written in the Torah that it is a day to "afflict your souls." A day of prayer and fasting and the most solemn day of the year, it lasts 25 hours and draws the 10 Days of Penitence (or the 10 Days of Awe, the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) to a close. From sunset to the next evening's sundown, modern day observing Jews follow the example of God's angels who, according to traditional belief, do not eat or drink. Some fast from everything that brings pleasure to the flesh. Jews spend the time in prayer and confession asking God's forgiveness and seeking the forgiveness of their friends and relations.  "Religions of the World: Judaism," p. 32.

Yom Kippur is known as the Sabbath of Sabbaths, recognized as the most awesome day of the year. Keep in mind that the following idea comes from the mystical Kabbalah, but the description helps me understand Yom Kippur better: "...a time when the Jews have God's ear, so to speak, and can change their destiny... The practice through the day is to imagine that the heavenly court is in the process of determining what one's coming year has in store, based on previous actions, speech, and thoughts."  "The Jewish Lights Spirituality Handbook" p. 188.

A ram's horn or shofar, in the Complete Jewish Bible, is mentioned 83 times, in reference to its ceremonial use in the Temple and to its function as a signal-horn of war. Like bookends--or praying hands--Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are tied together blowing the Shofar. It is blown 100 notes at the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and 10 days later it is blown at the conclusion of Yom Kippur. 

The proverbial train horn is blowing as "Alice" climbs the steps. Like train tracks have two rails, the new year balances good with bad, happy with sad; but overall, it is a ride with God's hands on the Nation of Israel and each Jew that observes Yom Kippur.

And Aaron shall lay both is hands on the head of the live goat,

and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel,

and all their transgressions, all their sins...
And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes
and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp

(Leviticus 16:21, 26)

Return: Rosh Hashanah

Blowing the shofar

Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world. It is like a combined birthday, anniversary, and New Year's celebration all in one. Like the National Anthem being sung prior to a World Series game or a bugle blown prior to the Kentucky Derby to "take note!"... Rosh Hashanah is a time to take note, to celebrate, but it also proclaims a time of quiet introspection and repentance. 

Jews are preparing for an important event to come (the upcoming holiday Yom Kippur, the Jewish Holiest Day of the year). During the 2-day observance and celebration of Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets/a day of awakening/the Jewish New Year-- (Jewish holidays many times have more than one name and more than one spelling), a horn called a shofar (a cleaned-out ram's horn) is sounded, blown a total of 100 notes each day in the synagogue which calls the people to repent of their sins. (If the holiday of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, the shofar is sounded in the Holy Temple, but not in the land. Current Jewish law forbids the blowing of the shofar on the Sabbath, for fear of violating the prohibition against carrying objects in public). 

Three basic sounds blown on the shofar are: 1) a long, drawn-out note or blast, which is a grand sound used for proclamation and coronation; 2) briefer notes; 3) and very short notes. The sound of the shofar reminds many Jews of a person crying and helps them to reflect on their own sins and shortcomings. "Religions of the World: Judaism," p. 32.

Teshua is a term used regarding Rosh Hashanah. According to "Jewish Spirituality for Christians" p. 88-89 "Teshua is usually translated as 'repentance,'... it is a dominant theme during the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur..." One statement about Teshua is, "[It] means the world's salvation: to fully return to God would repair all creation and bring the Messiah."

"Jewish Lights" explains, "Rosh Hashana... falls in September or early October. Its main theme is 'remembrance' and 'return' to the Source of Creation... it is required for all Jews to hear a shofar on this day. The esoteric teaching is that the shofar confuses the 'accuser,' the negative energy left behind by our unskillful behavior" p. 187.

Rosh Hashanah facts:

• In contrast to the ecclesiastical lunar new year on the first day of the first month Nissan (the spring Passover months), Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the civil year
• It is a 2-day celebration. In 2023, the holiday started at sundown on Friday and ended at sundown on Sunday
• The traditional Rosh Hashanah greeting is, L'shana Tovah (have a good, sweet year)
• A custom is to eat apples dipped in honey and honey cake, representing God's provision and sweetness that He will manifest in the coming year
• It is the traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve
• Rosh Hashanah is one of the four early rain Holy Days
• It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days (Leviticus 23:23-25)
• High Holy Days include both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
• Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the holiest period on the Jewish calendar
• Some wear white on Rosh Hashanah, which symbolizes working on purifying ethically and morally during the High Holy Days. In the synagogue, the Torah is covered with a white cloth and rabbis wear white robes (Kittels)
• Like exclamation points (or trumpet sounds) Rosh Hashanah begins a time for Jews to reflect on their behavior in the past and to try to right any wrongs they may have done
• It begins the Ten Days of Penitence (the Days of Awe or Judgment), a time of deep introspection, that ends on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Prior to Rosh Hashanah, we give a special offering. Sometimes it is given to the Red Cross, or Convoy of Hope, sometimes to our house of worship. It is a faith statement that whatever happens during the coming year, good or bad, happy or sad, we want our finances and our lives to be in God's hands.

Many Jews perform a ritual called tashlikh, throwing breadcrumbs into a body of water. The ritual symbolically casts sins away, from the Old Testament verse, "You shall cast out our sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19).

"The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices" p. 274 has tongue-in-cheek suggestions for the choice of breadcrumbs:

Ordinary sins   White bread
Exotic sins    French or Italian bread
Dark sins    Pumpernickel
Complex sins    Multigrain
Truly Warped sins    Pretzels  😖
Sins of indecision    Waffles
Being ill-tempered    Sourdough   😡
Excessive use of irony    Rye bread
Continual bad jokes    Corn bread  😂
Hardening our heart    Jelly doughnuts

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, 
on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest,
 a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation..."

Leviticus 23:23-24