"Blessings above and below" - D'var Torah - Parashat Naso - June 14, 2019

 Most days, I find myself looking to the sky around the time of sunset.   Even cloudless evenings feature a colorful glow on the horizon after the sun has completed its descent.    For me, though, it’s the clouds, their ever-changing shapes, and the vast array of colors that ensue that make the sunset views to which we are treated so spectacular.  When I am not involved in a meeting or other activity at days’ end, I keep my eyes trained on the western sky.   I usually photograph the sunsets which I consider to be most impressive, sometimes more than once.    I know that many of us appreciate the blessings which creation bestows on us each night, vistas that illustrate the diverse wonders in our world.  

      Every day, we have to carefully look for the blessings that are placed before us.  Sometimes they are obvious.  At other times, we are challenged to discover those proverbial “blessings in disguise,” silver linings in dark clouds that will eventually shine brilliant light upon us and within us. 

  

    Last night, I was driving north on Roadrunner Parkway and saw two openings in the clouds that I would describe as “God’s eyes,” or, at least, as windows to the mysteries of creation.  They were accidental cloud formations, for sure, but much more.   They presented an unexpected gift of amazement.  Such views have a way of making us turn aside, breathe, and experience awe and even holiness.

     In July of 2000, Rhonda, Adam and I traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for Rhonda’s week-long cousin reunion.  There were 27 of us in one large house.    

     

On Friday morning during that week, I woke up at 6:00 am, got dressed quickly, and walked over the one sand dune that separated us from the beach to see the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.   As I got my first glimpse of the eastern sky, I saw that the clouds appeared to extend all the way down to the horizon. I wondered what I was doing there, because I thought that I might see nothing but clouds.  As the sun began to ascend, I realized that I was mistaken.   There was a sliver of sky hovering just above the ocean. The sun shined through that space, and then, as it kept rising behind the clouds, I could see the veiled image of the sun.  The view was simply incredible. 

     It was clear to me that it was the clouds that gave that sunrise its special character.        I made sure to capture the scene in a series of photographs.   In several photos of my photos, a single sea gull was walking on the beach, making a total of two of us who enjoyed creation’s performance on that particular morning. 

   I realized, in retrospect, that if we think of the challenges we face every day as the “clouds” of our lives,  then the “sun” represents the ingenuity, patience and wisdom that we employ to overcome disappointments and difficulties.  We are our own blessings when we discover solutions to our problems and dilemmas.  If we are fortunate, we have people around us who can see us through those moments when the clouds seem daunting.  Those colleagues, family members and friends who help us at those times, are, without a doubt, blessings to us.

     Rhonda expressed some of those very insights in a poem she wrote in response to my sunrise photos.  She described the ocean waves as cleansing us from what we need to leave behind so that we can move forward with resolve and hope.    In March of 2001, I wrote the song, “You Can Open Your Eyes,” as my thoughts finally came together about the deeper lessons of that day.

     I still think about the insights I gained from that experience which, in some ways, parallel the Priestly blessing that I will read from the Torah in a few moments.  Our service to each other, our sharing of our creativity in the form of songs, poetry, and the work of our hands, are blessings that we give and, hopefully, receive in return.  The priestly blessing isn’t only about how the Eternal One bestows upon us goodness, favor, and kindness.   It is about how we are all God’s representatives or messengers, or even angels, showering one another with the support we need to look beyond the clouds so that we can still see the blue sky peeking through, offering us the optimism that we need to wake up in the morning with our eyes open, with our spirits refreshed, with the confidence to present our best to the world, and with the humility to accept and to be grateful for the blessings that come our way.    May we continue to bless and keep one another, with God's help, with love, with acceptance, and with peace. 

Here is a link to a performance of the song "You Can Open Your Eyes" 
Larry Karol sings "You Can Open Your Eyes"

And here are the lyrics 

 You Can Open Your Eyes (L. Karol - March, 2001)
Some days are so hard that we look to the night
As our protection when we have no strength left for the fight 
We refuse to believe that we can go on
And we wonder when the night and the pain will be gone
CHORUS:  The clouds in the distance roll the darkness from the light 
                When you wake up, the sun will still rise, it's all right - You can open your eyes
It may be people we know, the situations we face
We need patience to answer with wisdom and grace 
It takes courage to live, uncertain of what will be 
There are days when the night is all we can see - CHORUS - You can open your eyes
A brilliant dawn is breaking as the ocean kisses the shore 
Even through the haze, there is promise in store
So rest for a while, let your mind be still - There are hills to climb and dreams to fulfill 
Your aspirations will guide your work until it's done 
May you walk with hope when each day has begun - CHORUS
You can open your eyes

When you wake up, the sun will still rise, it's all right - You can open your eyes

Heroic acts still need the coordination of a community - Column for Las Cruces Bulletin - Friday, June 7, 2019

       On May 9, I participated in a program at White Sands Missile Range that highlighted the contributions of members of the Jewish community to American life.   

        Having just seen “Avengers: Endgame,” I decided to focus on the creators of comic book heroes, popular songs, comedy and classic films whose Jewish roots and upbringing may have influenced their work.   

          “Schindler’s List” (Steven Spielberg), the song “Over the Rainbow” (Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg) from “The Wizard of Oz,” Superman (Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel), and Batman (Robert Kahn/Kane and Bill Finger) all illustrated the value of holding on to our aspirations to make a positive difference in the world. 

          In each one of those examples, none of the work could be done alone.  Even superheroes needed to partner with dedicated people who were supporting them.  And Dorothy couldn’t have made it home by herself.   

          Perhaps that is the draw of the “Avengers” films.  Each hero has personal challenges.  Together, the heroes realize that their individual abilities, added to the whole, have the potential to make them collectively (and ultimately) invincible. 

     The enthusiastic worldwide response to “Avengers: Endgame,” I believe, demonstrates a commitment of fans not only to seeing a film with fast-paced action, or wanting to know “what will happen this time,” but also to the principle of people working  in concert to do something incredible.  

      That is how we create community: by working together for a common goal. 

      We see teamwork in musical performances, theatrical presentations, films, sports,  interest groups, and organizations.   

      We have witnessed coordinated action in the extensive efforts of local groups to offer hospitality and care to asylum seekers who spend a few days in Las Cruces and other nearby communities before going to their sponsors in other parts of the country. 

       Those acts of kindness mirror what we have been doing all along to offer assistance to local residents who are in need of food, clothing and shelter.  

         We have also witnessed communities coming together at times of tragedy.  At this writing, on Memorial Day, I can look at the flag in my home that was presented to my family at the funeral of my father, who was a World War II veteran.  

        The violent attacks on houses of worship in recent months, in the United States and around the world,  have brought people together to resolve to offer one another greater understanding, support and security. 

         Sometimes, a sense of community can be resilient in ways we may not expect.  I attended the funeral in St. Louis of my 43 year-old friend (and harmonizer on my three albums), Angela Gold, several weeks ago. 

        Angela’s health challenges began at age 27, and continued in the years following. During all that time, she remained active and vibrant as a teacher, singer, guitar instructor, creator of jewelry, and participant in music conferences. 

      I met some of her closest friends for the first time at her 27th birthday celebration, and easily reconnected with them at the funeral.  The family requested those who had gathered for the evening service, customary on the day of a funeral (and the evenings following), to remain afterwards and join together in song to pay tribute to Angela’s memory.  

     Several generations of friends and family fashioned a meaningful musical tapestry of remembrance, a “circle of song” that offered warmth and comfort. 

     That is the heroic work we can do for each other:  giving support to create and sustain harmony, security, healing and hope.