Sabbath Messages > Sabbath Message: January 8, 2005
Good Sabbath
January 8, 2005
Blessed art Thou O Lord
Who has lent me friends
Of whom I think
As I walk through morning rain
Helping me to drown the pain.
I lost a true friend on Thursday, a rather wonderfully, loyal man, whose love for life was interrupted by spells of loneliness which all humans taste. Dave Stoller worked for me so many years ago, but friendship lasts, especially when fueled with caring and loyalty--a most unusual and mature trait. I once wrote a poem about it because I treasured it so much. Dave was a financial genius who always wondered about how so much mediocrity could rise to such successful heights in a culture. This could make him an elitist, which he was not, or a crank, which he was not. In fact, his ego was diminished by his lack of vanity. He cared for others and wanted them to care for him! He looked for people to like and a woman to love. He had many a friend who shared his pleasure of riding their Harleys. He was tall, black hair, black beard, and with cycle-attire of black leather. He suffered sinus at its very worse. He was liked by many and we will all miss him terribly. I am so used to reading his e-mails to me, each couple of days. His Mom was his treasure as all good mothers are. My heart goes out to her left with her painful memories.
But that's only one man, still in his forties, and could not be compared to the thousands who died in that tsunami. But to friends who know that each person is a treasury of companionship and understanding, we measure each one as deep loss. I read a column that was titled "What Was God Thinking?... Why does God permit a tragedy such as this?" as if we could define an answer, or the answer. Does God allow humans to build in dangerous places, hillsides, fire zones, water passageways, islands, near to volcanoes, on earthquake faults? He has no vote, leaving it up to us. The religious response is not to seek to understand, thereby to accept. The truly religious don't keep questioning "why?", but answer the tragedies with assistance, charity and an improvement in the social order.
We are charged to seek justice but also assistance in doing away with poverty of soul and pocketbook. Life is filled with the opportunities to try to alleviate various pains of living and deprivation. We are to visit the ill, cleanse the fallen, battle tyranny, raise the next generation, comfort the afflicted, oh yes, and forgive our enemies--a difficult task right after battle and slaughter.
God works in mysterious ways. The Christians imagine their God, Jesus Christ, and that makes it so much easier, not caring whether He was tall or short, or blonde or brunette. Buddha is everywhere in nature, while others have to think about what God represents rather than how He or She looks. Faith and God travel together, on high roads that cause us to be more humane, more human, and to believe that there is much good, much more than evil and bad. The tsunami is not evil, just powerfully able to flood where it will and carry away what it will. Every TV image I saw showed that the curiosity of many attracted crowds to the sound of the rising waves, until they became obviously a threat. I have always been impressed and frightened by the roar of an earthquake, like a powerful train coming into your home, deafening the senses with frightening thunder.You feel helpless and you are.
The good part was the pictures of our Marines helping the deprived rather than killing or being killed. Will it help disperse the hatred of our soldiers? We can only hope. Hatred is more powerful than tidal waves for it sweeps all reason from the brain and intelligence and tolerance along with it. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks says: "Having seen how small and vulnerable humanity is in the face of nature, might we not also see how small are the things that divide us, and how tragic to add grief to grief."
O Lord, please make me all You wish I were
For I share that wish with You
And try, each day, to become more like You,
though I may fail, it is the noble gift
that You have brought close to my body
Adding to my soul and my spirit.
Walk with those you love today, for this day was created for that purpose, no matter the weather or the threat,
sandy
