5 minute read
Faith
We follow the light to faith, understanding.
RABBI IRWIN WIENER
Columnist
All of us live in a world that rotates so fast that sometimes we wonder what would happen if it should stop. Would we just fall o ?
Those who have experienced this feeling can understand the madness that is associated with such trauma. However, we are resilient and steadfast in our determination to survive and make sense of our lives.
Wow! What a daunting sensation. Our world, as we know it, is supposed to o er us the ability to experience the unthinkable and share the unimaginable.
Yet, when we read about some revelation and another invention and a concept of machines replacing humans, we begin to wonder whether we are in control of our destiny.
The simple things seemed to have disappeared. The feeling of connection lost in the shu e of speed. The reliance on faith to guide us in paths determined to enhance our lives is now passé. The aged attempt to feel relevant and the young feel as though they are indestructible.
The pandemic surely has magnifi ed the thought of our mortality and the necessary steps we must take in order to survive. I believe that we have seen the light and the light has given us the ability to move forward.
The pews have been empty, the buildings looking lonely; the spirit is gone from the faces that once looked in amazement at ritual and splendor that
reminded us of the grandeur of God.
What we seemed to have forgotten is the thankfulness of breath, the wonder of birth, the amazement at witnessing the trees bloom and the aroma of the fl owers that bring fl avor to our lives, We have become so insensitive to touching or feeling that we cannot even remember the thrill of family gatherings.
Our houses of worship were established to remind us of history, and tradition, and faith. We began our spiritual journey entering the doors of these noble institutions and, much to our amazement we felt an unexplainable chill run through our veins.
We knew that the generations that preceded us felt the very same way, but not so sure that the next will also have this euphoric encounter.
Now, more than ever we must return to the place where we found peace. It is
also important for us to encourage others to remember that even though we may not feel an immediate need, there will come a time when this place will be again center stage in our lives.
We must remember that support may seem heavy, but there are those who rely on us for their existence to fl ourish. It is not enough to say that we do not need to participate now because there will come a time when it will be essential.
We lose loved ones, we go through illness, we fi nd ourselves isolated from family and friends, and we despair in the grip of loneliness. Have we not experienced this at this moment in time?
We must remember the happy moments that we once shared with others. All these adventures in our journey require a place for us to come together and understand that only together can we truly appreciate the value and purpose of our presence.
Today, more than ever, we fi nd ourselves in the forefront of striving for human decency. Somehow, however, we omit the one ingredient that can and should solidify confi dence in ourselves – faith – and this faith in the One who gave us the ability to be who we are can sustain us in times of need.
Where do we turn? The simple truth is that we need each other, we need purpose in our lives, and we need to understand that each of us has value.
Most of all we must remember that a life without faith will certainly leave us no place to turn. Now, more than ever, is this so important.
It is more important than ever because of the turmoil we have witnessed, not only with the pandemic that has stolen more than a year from us, but also the hate and vitriol that has permeated our country.
Therefore, as we enter the next phase in our journey on the path to health and safety, we need, more than ever, to remember that when one of us is lost, we are all lost. When our society becomes ill, we all su er.
But when we are happy it becomes a joy for all of us.
We look forward to greeting each and every one as the doors open, our hearts again fi lled with song, and our feelings of connection once more fulfi lled. The welcome mat is out.
Rabbi Irwin Wiener D.D. is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Community.
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