[HANASHIR:3198] Really a week ago?

[Steve Greenberg <SIG...>]

It's hard to believe that we were together in Wisconsin just a week ago --
it seems like a whole world of difference between HN and Mpls (Minneapolis).
I add my comments on the discussion on spirituality and keeping our
experience last week alive.  I'll keep them short so you're able to read
them fast, and so I can get back to work.

As for whether or not our experience last week at HN was that of a spiritual
community, I prefer to stay away from discussing the empirical evidence and
arguments to support one way or another.  If you felt it, then it was there
-- it was reality, and only each of us can speak for ourselves on what it
felt like and meant to us.

When I was young and needed to connect with G-d for whatever reason, I'd ask
G-d, "If you're really there, then move the pencil in my desktop drawer to
the other side of the drawer.  I'll give you a few hours, and promise not to
peek until a while has passed."

The pencil never moved.

But last Saturday morning, the lights went on after we uttered "yotzeir or".
That was even better than a pencil!  The lesson I learned at that moment and
that was repeated over and over in many ways throughout the event, is that,
yes,               G-d is there (in us, around us, however you experience
Divine Presence).  The only difference is that at HN we communally gave
ourselves permission to notice and acknowledge it.  Our ruach and our tears
are the empirical proof!

The challenge now, back in our routine, mechanized and busy world, is to
stay open to recognize and acknowledge the other signs as they present
themselves.  They may not be as poignant and obvious as the lights going on,
but that was really a good introduction and wake-up call.  At home, we can
now practice recognizing the Divine as much as we want.  At the same time,
we can practice "shutting off" those other internalized messages that make
us ignore or dismiss when we have "those" feelings.

And, if anyone does manage to get G-d to rearrange their desk drawer, please
send photos!

Shabbat Shalom,
Steve Greenberg

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chazzzan (at) aol(dot)com [SMTP:Chazzzan (at) aol(dot)com]
> Sent: Friday, June 11, 1999 6:44 AM
> To:   hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject:      [HANASHIR:3196] RE: risers
> 
> Wow, Adrian, you sure can RISE to the occasion!
> 
> Brian
> 

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