Out of the Darkness
some thoughts on the past week, and hope
And here we are again. Another terrible war in this troubled, troubled world. The horribly violent attack by Hamas on Israel Saturday affected our family directly: Julie and Gil were in Tel Aviv, about to wrap up a visit with Gil’s relatives. Instead of a relaxing and fun final day, they spent an extremely stressful and frightening two days, hearing explosions and sirens, taking shelter multiple times, waiting many hours in the chaotic airport, dealing with cancelled flights and, finally, making their way out of the country and back to New York.
While we’re so happy and relieved to have our daughter and son-in-law safely home, our hearts are with Gil’s family, and all the families in harm’s way, and the worry continues. But I do believe in the power of prayer and am praying very hard now, for a lasting peace. In the Middle East. In Ukraine. On earth. Please God.
When Sheridan was a young composition student at Curtis back in 2004, he was commissioned to arrange 22 songs from the Jewish ghettos and Nazi concentration camps, for chorus and instrumentalists. It was an amazing project, and the resulting cantata has been performed many times, all over the world (and will be performed again November 5th where it began, in State College, PA).
Here are a few brief excerpts….
MUSIC: Voices of the Holocaust excerpts
The song “(Zog Nit Keyn Mol) Never Say This is the Final Road for You,” ends the work on a note of hope. And there is, must always be, a way to hang onto hope.
“Never say this is the final road for you
Though leaden skies may cover over days of blue
As the hour that we longed for is so near
Our step beats out the message—we are here!”
A WALK TO REMEMBER:
On Sunday October 1st, I joined thousands of people in the Philadelphia “Out of the Darkness” walk to support suicide prevention. It was a deeply emotional event, all of us gathering to remember those tragic, solitary struggles. In 2017 and 2018 I lost two dear friends, Deb and Heather, to suicide—both beautiful, loving, accomplished women, devoted moms, and women of deep faith. And yet, for them, their inner suffering became too much to bear. October 1st was a gorgeous, blessedly sunny morning, and as we walked, it felt as if Deb, Heather, and countless other beloved souls, were among us as well.
If you or a loved one are struggling, please know there is support and help. I am glad there is now a phone number for a suicide crisis lifeline that is easy to remember and to access nationwide: 988.
VIDEO: Unsung Hero
I don’t want today’s newsletter to be bleak. It is still a world filled with joy as well as sorrow…and we have it in us as humans to bring more joy and love to one another, every single day. And so, in that spirit, here’s a beautiful short, “Unsung Hero” (and yes, it’s another Thai commercial!)
BLOG PREVIEW: Any Instant Dream Home fans out there? Aiden and Peter LOVE this home makeover show, which involves a total redo of a house in just 12 hours (and, for the viewer, a willing suspension of disbelief.) But the time frame definitely appeals to me (I like my renovations to be speedy!) Check out Working Title tomorrow!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
(painting and quote shared by the wonderful Quaker writer Parker Palmer)
As we navigate life’s troubles and uncertainty, let’s, like Kay White, still plot the resurrection. Let’s plant hope for a glorious future. Shalom, my friends.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels