[HANASHIR:10655] A New Month

[Gayle and Barry Joseph <4health...>]

For putting up with my rant, and for all of you who behind the scenes
answered and counseled...  I thank you.  I'm ready to take on the world
again in a much better light, though your counsel was not the goal.  The
goal was to make sure that anyone who is eager and willing to share
themselves musically with their congregation is given that chance - they
deserve that chance.

I seem to remember an e-mail last year after many of you got back from Hava
Nashira.  It said that we are supposed to share with each other something
good in our lives on Rosh Chodesh.   Here is an opening prayer that I just
wrote for my Rosh Chodesh group tomorrow night.  Ok, it's not music, and
it's not one of those Lupert masterpieces, but maybe it will hit home for
one or more of you - bring something forward that you'd want to share - and
for the others, there's always the delete button.


Meditation on the New Moon

Behold the New Moon -
A new month to start fresh,
An old month to savor in memory.

We take a moment to pause, reflect and praise,
For in this moment our lives begin anew.

In this moment we forgive ourselves;
For not living up to our own expectations,
For not speaking up when we wanted desperately to be heard,
For reacting harshly when a calming soul was needed.

In this moment we praise ourselves;
For acting lovingly and giving of ourselves to others,
For embracing life and joyously living,
For creating a sacred space within our heart.

In the darkness of the sky we can see eternity.
We are ready to begin the cycle again.
With a steady hand and a loving heart,
Carving the new month into the clay of our lives.


B'Shalom,
Gayle Joseph


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