A season of lights
Dec. 26th, 2005 12:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deborahjrossA full and satisfying day yesterday, began with Presents, Part I, our family tradition of the youngest distributing them and all of us savoring the discovery of each treasure. Break for breakfast, an attempt at a Dutch-baby pancake (it didn't poof but was custardy in the middle, crusty on the outside and just grand with frozen blackberries from last summer, powdered sugar and whipped cream). Presents, Part II. Then Dave and I went into town for Quaker meeting.
I don't often rise to ministry, but this time I did. I had been reading the Chanukah story and had been disturbed by how Mattathias, "inflamed with zeal," slew the Jew who had obeyed Antiochus's order to sacrifice to the pagan god, and also slew the king's officer. I can't condone such murder or celebrate it. And then Mattathias browbeats his sons into continuing the bloody cause. Not that the Syrians were nice people, either. One heinous act does not justify another. Where is the miracle in this? Where is the Light? The answer, I believe, lies not in human behavior. When all was said and done, the light from the single cruze of oil endured . . . the Light was always there, will always be there, leading us beyond our petty hatreds and bigotry. We have only to open our hearts and look within.
Others rose also, echoing the theme of Light. It was a deep and moving meeting, "gathered" in spirit. Afterwards, I had a chance to speak with an older woman, a Jew brought up in Orthodox tradition, who has been an attendee at Quaker meeting for many years. We have agreed to talk more, and I may have found a companion/mentor. What a gift!
Back for Presents, Part II. You would think we had a whole pile, but actually there were only a few, we just took our time. Then mad rushing around and an early dinner for 7, bracketed by lighting the first candle of Chanukah while rain poured down outside, very cozy, reading aloud Eric Kimmel's wondrous HERSCHEL AND THE CHANUKAH GOBLINS, complete with funny voices, and fellowship into the evening. Called Sarah and had a lovely chat.
Today, sun on the garden and a book to finish (writing, perhaps reading, too).
I don't often rise to ministry, but this time I did. I had been reading the Chanukah story and had been disturbed by how Mattathias, "inflamed with zeal," slew the Jew who had obeyed Antiochus's order to sacrifice to the pagan god, and also slew the king's officer. I can't condone such murder or celebrate it. And then Mattathias browbeats his sons into continuing the bloody cause. Not that the Syrians were nice people, either. One heinous act does not justify another. Where is the miracle in this? Where is the Light? The answer, I believe, lies not in human behavior. When all was said and done, the light from the single cruze of oil endured . . . the Light was always there, will always be there, leading us beyond our petty hatreds and bigotry. We have only to open our hearts and look within.
Others rose also, echoing the theme of Light. It was a deep and moving meeting, "gathered" in spirit. Afterwards, I had a chance to speak with an older woman, a Jew brought up in Orthodox tradition, who has been an attendee at Quaker meeting for many years. We have agreed to talk more, and I may have found a companion/mentor. What a gift!
Back for Presents, Part II. You would think we had a whole pile, but actually there were only a few, we just took our time. Then mad rushing around and an early dinner for 7, bracketed by lighting the first candle of Chanukah while rain poured down outside, very cozy, reading aloud Eric Kimmel's wondrous HERSCHEL AND THE CHANUKAH GOBLINS, complete with funny voices, and fellowship into the evening. Called Sarah and had a lovely chat.
Today, sun on the garden and a book to finish (writing, perhaps reading, too).
