After a long period of not being able to read your beautiful writing (crazy pace of life, and I need quiet to appreciate your wonderfully articulated thoughts)--I am so happy to be back! As I read Forgetting and Remembering, I keep thinking of a beautiful prayer/poem written by my rabbi, --who is an author and poet---and which encompasses the title of your newsletter, This Very Moment. I read it often, and want to share it with you:
Patience
by Rabbi Karyn Kedar
Steady yourself. Living takes time.
Each moment is a moment to be lived.
Each emotion is to be felt.
We are here in this world to learn and grow.
Fear can teach. Confusion instructs. Sadness informs.
Love elevates.
Take the time to experience each breath.
Especially the ones that make you want to run.
Patience. Steady.
Rush and race banish joy and peace.
There is wonder to experience if you take the time.
This is beautiful, thank you so much, Shelley. And you’re right, this is one to save and reread, which I will. Always grateful for your thoughtful responses and your support.
I'm really happy that you and Emma also feel that Rabbi Kedar's prayer/poem is beautiful. She's written a number of books, among them a favorite, God Whispers, which are short vignettes about finding beautiful moments if we pay attention and slow down so we can savor those experiences---hearing God whisper, however you define God. I haven't been savoring much lately, though, too busy---although with all good things---but now, it's summer, I intend to read your writings that I've missed! Plus, I bought Emma's book and have it as a must-read for this summer. Finally at the top of my To Be Read pile---thanks so much to both of you!
So beautifully true Shelley. Thank you for sharing this. The older I get the easier it is to step into this space of, yes, wisdom in each experience. 🙏🏼
Linda, I feel the same! We are Elders now---yes, older, which means, in the most positive way, using our many years to find joy in the human and more-than-human world around us, and leave a legacy of experience and some wisdom for the next generation..
I feel the same way. I read it 2x then closed my eyes and listened. Then sent it to my son hoping he will understand my mood changes having lost both parents and my husband (his dad). Amazing writing by Rob. Touches my soul.
So many people suffering great loss could benefit from this. I wish everyone who is struggling now could sit with this and feel the power of healing it brings. I keep coming back to it. Grief changes who we are. “Our people” have gone. We keep trying to get back to them. And then with God’s mercy and grace we come to realize they were here all along.
And to you, Debby. I’m so glad to hear this is bringing some healing. Grief sure does change who we are. I like what Nick Cave said on Anderson Cooper’s Podcast “All There Is,” something about how grief has expanded his heart in some ways, though of course he would give it all back in a second, if he had the choice. But we don’t, and that’s so much to grapple with. It’s a really beautiful episode, and I love how he talks about it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCJgE1NXF3A
Oh my gosh Rob! Every time! You leave me breathless, filled with a buzzing, thrumming feeling in my whole bidy at the rightness of your magical words. Thank you!
After a long period of not being able to read your beautiful writing (crazy pace of life, and I need quiet to appreciate your wonderfully articulated thoughts)--I am so happy to be back! As I read Forgetting and Remembering, I keep thinking of a beautiful prayer/poem written by my rabbi, --who is an author and poet---and which encompasses the title of your newsletter, This Very Moment. I read it often, and want to share it with you:
Patience
by Rabbi Karyn Kedar
Steady yourself. Living takes time.
Each moment is a moment to be lived.
Each emotion is to be felt.
We are here in this world to learn and grow.
Fear can teach. Confusion instructs. Sadness informs.
Love elevates.
Take the time to experience each breath.
Especially the ones that make you want to run.
Patience. Steady.
Rush and race banish joy and peace.
There is wonder to experience if you take the time.
Step softly and deliberately.
What lingers must be lived and
Once lived completely passes in its own time.
To force the natural rhythms of life
Is to deny yourself of the
Divine wisdom in each experience.
This is beautiful, thank you so much, Shelley. And you’re right, this is one to save and reread, which I will. Always grateful for your thoughtful responses and your support.
I'm really happy that you and Emma also feel that Rabbi Kedar's prayer/poem is beautiful. She's written a number of books, among them a favorite, God Whispers, which are short vignettes about finding beautiful moments if we pay attention and slow down so we can savor those experiences---hearing God whisper, however you define God. I haven't been savoring much lately, though, too busy---although with all good things---but now, it's summer, I intend to read your writings that I've missed! Plus, I bought Emma's book and have it as a must-read for this summer. Finally at the top of my To Be Read pile---thanks so much to both of you!
So beautifully true Shelley. Thank you for sharing this. The older I get the easier it is to step into this space of, yes, wisdom in each experience. 🙏🏼
Linda, I feel the same! We are Elders now---yes, older, which means, in the most positive way, using our many years to find joy in the human and more-than-human world around us, and leave a legacy of experience and some wisdom for the next generation..
This found that buried part of me
Began the excavation, as they do for fossils,
With tiny tools, scraping away bit by bit
It could take a long time,
but then what is time, really
except our forgetting of this eternal now
Thank you Rob, for this shared remembrance ❤️🙏🏻😎
Thank you, Steven, this is so lovely to read.
“This eternal now…” I love that phrase. Thank you for sharing your thoughts so beautifully.
Rob this is gorgeous. Like there was liquid ache in your pen waiting to turn into something beautiful. So so good. Thank you for sharing it n
Thank you so much, Kate. What a beautiful way to say it.
Such a beautiful essay Rob.
Beautiful and vulnerable. Thank you, Rob.
Thank so much, Wendy.
A hug for all the unbearable losses and another for the remembering. Thank you, thank you. Wonder how you knew to say such things.
Oh, that’s so lovely, thank you, Elizabeth. You always leave the most generous and wonderful comments, which are always so appreciated.
Rob, The opening was one of the finest I’ve read. Dropped me right in. And such a treat the whole thing is. Sticking with me well after my first read.
I feel the same way. I read it 2x then closed my eyes and listened. Then sent it to my son hoping he will understand my mood changes having lost both parents and my husband (his dad). Amazing writing by Rob. Touches my soul.
Debby, this moves me so much. All the love to you and your son.
So many people suffering great loss could benefit from this. I wish everyone who is struggling now could sit with this and feel the power of healing it brings. I keep coming back to it. Grief changes who we are. “Our people” have gone. We keep trying to get back to them. And then with God’s mercy and grace we come to realize they were here all along.
God’s blessings to you Rob.
Peace
And to you, Debby. I’m so glad to hear this is bringing some healing. Grief sure does change who we are. I like what Nick Cave said on Anderson Cooper’s Podcast “All There Is,” something about how grief has expanded his heart in some ways, though of course he would give it all back in a second, if he had the choice. But we don’t, and that’s so much to grapple with. It’s a really beautiful episode, and I love how he talks about it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCJgE1NXF3A
Thank you, my friend. How lovely to read this.
So beautiful. Thank you
Thank you, Julie! I so appreciate your letting me know you liked it.
So beautiful…I needed that right now.
Thank you.
I really appreciate your being here, Debby.
Oh my gosh Rob! Every time! You leave me breathless, filled with a buzzing, thrumming feeling in my whole bidy at the rightness of your magical words. Thank you!
Thank you, Linda! This is so wonderful to read, and I’m glad to know it resonated with you.
So, so good.
Thank you, Alex!
Body