challenges

how many days after Yom Kippur is it? do you remember it? do you remember praying, crying, vowing; the realigning you did way back then? do you remember how you bled for your Immortal Soul and all the stupid things your feeble body has done to deprive Her of love and light? you actually bled for the pain of your soul. right on the book. do you remember?

and then there's the trick of opening up your being to totally receive the Light of another, while simultaneously emanating your own Light, without stumbling, without fearing, purely Being, constantly grateful. just holding the space between you. holding, honoring, witnessing the life of another discrete being. Shiviti Hashem l'negdi tamid- I place God before/against me always.

or, even better,
the amazing dance of patience, slow breathing, chewing each bite thirty-seven times, pulling back your frantic ego and letting the Universe unfold before you; just smiling because you know that the opportunity to play the game is worth the price of admission.

sometimes it burns. like when you're cutting a chili pepper, and the oils get on your hand, then you touch your mouth or some other place, and after a few minutes your flesh is on fire. there's nothing you can do but smile, sip your coffee and enjoy the pain of it all. eventually it will go away, and then dinner will be served.

something like that
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this is me and my pal Lev Israel Stark. he's super! check us out (with another cute pal) at Lev's very own site, Superstarks!
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i've given up my grudge and begun calling my mother again-- someone call me! (even you, Mrs. Berkowitz)