In the barren dead of a freezing winter I am hearing the sweet, musical melodies of singing birds and bubbling brooks. Imagining waterfalls and the trickling of pure, white, foamy water; gently caressing my feet as I walk on the sands of a tropical beach in Hawaii. The birds, they call to each other, beckoning the other to join in song and to sing with each other as the water flows in a continuous soft background rumbling of a bass sound.
Our family came together, over me, this Thanksgiving Holiday. She had not seen her in over 20 years, but God and Elijah joined my Catholic/Jewish family together in a lunch, a picnic, as the birds sang songs of our Motherland Israel (including Bethlehem) to them as they ate, as they ate, with newfound knowledge of kosher foods and dishware.
It was a pure happening--between the members of our Catholic/Jewish family--happy and concerned about the welfare of all its kin. "Brothers who take anger at each other lose large cities," is a verse I read in Proverbs. "Love your neighbor," yes, how much more important is it then, to love your family. There will be turkeys galore, but I will be the only member of our Jewish/Catholic family who will be eating a kosher turkey. I had a kosher turkey last year too. The birds are singing in faith with me, as I observe the religion of my choice, of my ancestors. They chat, they sing, they bathe in the brook and I listen to them as happiness flows from their wings as they take flight after a song.
A song of Thanksgiving, for good food, in abundance, and goodness toward one's neighbor; but especially toward one's family--ALL of one's family. Even the orphans, the widows, the strangers, and the Levites. We all deserve love and peace, like birds, like brooks--like continuous sounds of laughter of children--if you cannot hear this peace--it is in your power to imagine. Imagine that!
Our family came together, over me, this Thanksgiving Holiday. She had not seen her in over 20 years, but God and Elijah joined my Catholic/Jewish family together in a lunch, a picnic, as the birds sang songs of our Motherland Israel (including Bethlehem) to them as they ate, as they ate, with newfound knowledge of kosher foods and dishware.
It was a pure happening--between the members of our Catholic/Jewish family--happy and concerned about the welfare of all its kin. "Brothers who take anger at each other lose large cities," is a verse I read in Proverbs. "Love your neighbor," yes, how much more important is it then, to love your family. There will be turkeys galore, but I will be the only member of our Jewish/Catholic family who will be eating a kosher turkey. I had a kosher turkey last year too. The birds are singing in faith with me, as I observe the religion of my choice, of my ancestors. They chat, they sing, they bathe in the brook and I listen to them as happiness flows from their wings as they take flight after a song.
A song of Thanksgiving, for good food, in abundance, and goodness toward one's neighbor; but especially toward one's family--ALL of one's family. Even the orphans, the widows, the strangers, and the Levites. We all deserve love and peace, like birds, like brooks--like continuous sounds of laughter of children--if you cannot hear this peace--it is in your power to imagine. Imagine that!
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