Today marks the 17th anniversary of my father's passing.
As is custom in Judaism, I decided to go to services this morning so I could say the mourner's kaddish .
It was on my way to the synagogue that I realized that with my new bus schedule start time, I could, with a few adjustments to my morning routine, make it to services just about everyday.
To be clear, I am one who rarely connects to prayer in any way shape or form.
However,supporting the daily service , I can help fill a role by being one of the 10 men needed to make a minyan (Google it if you must).
In a flash, some of the dots that have been clouding my vision, became connected.
The other day I shared with my Rabbi my latest quote (yes every once in a while I am quotable!).
I stated:
"You can't start a fire with wet wood!"
I went on to share with him that lately I have been a piece of wet wood. A soggy , soaked,dripping wet log.
I felt no spiritual or communal tug that would help draw me to be part of our congregation and community.
No matter what spark he could offer, no matter how much kindling the community could supply, my being wet wood could not catch on fire.
Without the fire, there is no heat, no energy.
It's a fairly useless and generally unpleasant place to be.
Suddenly there is an opportunity for me to change all of this.
I can take away the negative impact of my shortened work schedule and replace it with doing something positive,actually performing a mitzvah (good deed).
And how did I come to realize all of this?
By learning a lesson from my father.
17 years in the grave and he still managed to find a way to show me a path towards being a mensch.
Thanks dad!
I needed that!
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