Shabbat Inspiration with Diane

  We are in the most holy days of the year, once again. As predictable as the sunrise and sunset, we are given an even deeper ability than daily to once a year focus on what we can do to live better the blessed lives we’ve been given.   When we think of “teshuvah” we think about repentance, or more accurately, returning to God by coming back to our better selves, addressing our failings and mistakes, trying harder to live honest and spiritually centered lives. As part of that quest for spiritual wholeness, I also associate forgiveness of ourselves and others.   I cannot explain why on this particular Sunday morning I was led to dig deeply into a situation spanning and... Read More →

  One of my routine jogs when not at the beach is around the cul-de-sac near our home. It’s a .5 mile loop that is downhill as you start on the top on one side and climb uphill on the return on the other side with ocean views. What’s not to like?   Recently when doing the loop with a friend when we were at the top for the second time and began down the hill she said , “That’s one.” I was puzzled since for me I had counted two. When we discussed it she said she counts each loop once we’ve finished it. I, on the other hand, count each loop as I’m about to start it.   No big deal, right? Yet our perspectives say quite a bit about our world views.   For me, as I would... Read More →

  Who would ever think dealing with kidney stones for the last two months with pain and surgeries could possible have anything good about it? I mean I’ve been thanking God and being grateful for so many other things, but frankly, not for the kidney stones, themselves.  Yes, I’ve had my times of being overwhelmed and finding it hard to be positive, but generally, I’ve worked even harder at those times to remind myself that God has my back, and my kidneys too!   This week I was supposed to travel to Wisconsin for a three day meeting of my major client. It’s a big deal and should not be missed. As it turned out, however, due to some complications from last week’s surgery, I was... Read More →

Perhaps the truest test of my transparency in these writings is admitting that I’ve been a fan of the singer Tom Jones since I was a teenager. I can no longer defend that I like him because my mom did. I like him. Despite the image of him that was created when he was young in the 1960s, even today at age 84 his voice is still astounding.   I recently saw him live in concert and was once again amazed at his unique and powerful voice as well as the wide range of songs he sang, very few from the “sexier” days of his youth, and these days even those not sung while dancing. Although the arena was filled with thousands and the reception by the all-aged audience was over... Read More →

Our sense of well being comes from being able to feel loved. Ideally such a reality starts when we are babies and continues throughout our lives. Most babies start out being loved unconditionally since they’re so darn cute! (Chava Leah, case in point!) Actually, as babies we are born very self centered and as children need to be taught how to take into account the needs of others. The emotionally most healthy adults are those who have been blessed with loving parents who through their sacrificial nurturing have been models for their child of how to love others. When raised feeling loved, we are better able not only to learn how to meaningfully love others, but also, how to love... Read More →

  Last week we noodled about times of challenge in our lives. What are we to learn from them? Why do they happen? Why does God allow these times? Are those even the right questions?   No need to look back on last week’s writing. None of those questions were fully answered for they remain still challenging. The joys and the sorrows, and everything in between, deepen our relationship with our Creator as He through each season leads us to work on our souls.   The word that kept popping in my head this week was “suffering”. It’s not that I’m in that place, yet the healing process from last week’s surgery has not been easy. With less ability for the physical activities and... Read More →

  How do we know when we’re just going through a run of bad luck or we’re feeling it’s something more – those words I don’t like to use but I will – spiritual warfare. We really can’t know for sure, but when negative things seem to be happening all at once or in a short time frame, my antennae go up.   Preface all of that to say God always has our backs. Frankly, when I feel “under attack”, it typically emboldens me to talk back to the evil one, call him a bully, tell him I’m not afraid. Fear and confusion are his tactics and he’s no match for our Protector, our Abba, our Yeshua, the one and only. I up my prayer time and reach out to others for prayer support. I put on my... Read More →

  Last week we pondered the less obvious ways the process of healing may take place. We saw extreme examples of loving one’s enemy in the story of the Lubetzkys and the superintendent, and Cantor Weisser and the klansman. We were moved by the super whose only reason for saving this Jewish family during the Holocaust was that he had been treated kindly by them despite his mistreatment of them. We learned of a klansman who was so moved by a cantor’s kindness despite being mistreated that the klansman overcame his prejudice.  I also shared my own experience about a wounding I didn’t even know needed healing.   In all of those stories another dimension we didn’t consider was the... Read More →

  I recently heard an interview with Daniel Lubetzky the founder of the Kind Foundation and many successful ventures including Kind LLC featuring the well known Kind bars. Knowing the story behind this man’s worldview gave me much to ponder about the importance of loving our enemies. Clearly, following this directive fueled by God’s unconditional love of us is what enables us to rise above our typically limited human capacity to do so.   Daniel’s father Roman was a child in Kovno, Lithuania during the Holocaust. He lived in a place with multiple Jewish families. The superintendent of the building where they lived knew the family was Jewish and therefore was extremely unkind to... Read More →

  Camp Or L’Dor ended on Sunday and in my opinion was the best year yet. The stunning location and welcoming hosts created an inviting place for campers and counselors to feel our Abba’s loving embrace. So many moments of vulnerability, sharing from the heart, healing, acts of love and sacrifice, clear reliance on God, growth in faith, affirmation of the reality of His Presence.   One of the beauties of the camp leadership team, which it seems HaShem must have hand picked, is our diversity of demeanor and skillsets. In the early years the team was just the four of us, Rabbi Nathan, Raina, Sid, and me with a couple counselors. What an incredible blessing that over these 16... Read More →

  Last week we noodled generational wisdom, the importance of leaning on God to inform our actions in raising children and mentoring others. We emphasized that to feel loved, safe, and hopeful, the source is our Abba ministering to each of His children through the Holy Spirit, and the awareness of Yeshua walking with us every step of the way.   As some of you know we are in the second week of Camp Or L’Dor, a Messianic Jewish teen camp founded by Rabbi Nathan and Sid sixteen years ago. Its original vision had three parts-  daily services and teachings to deepen Messianic Jewish teens’ experience and knowledge of their faith, an off site challenging outdoor adventure to fortify... Read More →

  In Maine we don’t have cable TV so our TV watching is very limited (fine with us!) Last evening we were trying to catch the news but due to storm interference, that wasn’t an option.  I was packing for a trip (what else is new?) so was looking for a random distraction which turned out to be a rerun of “Last Man Standing” on the only channel available. I actually had never seen this sitcom before but the subject matter caught my attention.   Tim Allen plays the grandfather in the show and in this episode he has succeeded in getting his grandson to leave a safe room in the house which apparently was a place to take shelter in case of an emergency.  A conversation unfolds... Read More →

  A couple weeks ago I shared with you my experience at a rural church near Portland, ME. There our ukulele group “Ukuleles Heal the World” provided worship music. I remarked on the simplicity of the cross at the front of the church, it being made of two moderately sized tree branches connected in the shape of a cross, held together at ninety degrees by simple twine at the juncture of the branches.   At that time some additional thoughts stirred. They may tread on some deep theological disagreements so let’s not go there. Instead, let’s open our minds to the possibility that the simple wooden cross is as a work to be viewed as inspirational, not definitional.   When I... Read More →

  Each day we are presented with possibilities of what to do when. I have to say between working part-time as a lawyer, non-profit passions (especially involving Messianic Judaism and Scripture study), music endeavors, and exercise, I typically have multiple choices. Sometimes it’s mid afternoon before I realize it, the day having offered so many engaging opportunities.   I try to start with focusing on my relationship with God, in whatever format that morning may bring. I love to start slowly with prayers of thankfulness, Scripture (love, love, love the Daily Dvar!), often meaning a morning jog with Him. This is also the time of day I feel centered, focused on God, and best... Read More →

  This week has been bursting with evidences of the breakthroughs in the healing of the Jewish/Christian schism. I say schism based on history, the millennia of anti-Semitism. Even today we cannot deny this challenge of humanity. Perhaps it is the drive to bring us together that most motivates my days. So when events such as what I’m about to describe seem to be extraordinarily plentiful, sharing them encourages us all, despite the headlines.   It seems that the filmmaking undertaking I described last week either raised my awareness or actually escalated the conversations between Jews and Christians that help us to overcome our differences and recognize our unity in Him. For... Read More →

  These days have been long anticipated, when the crew from Our Daily Bread Ministries would be here to film for Season 2 an episode for their series “Unshakable Moxie”. Feel free to check out Season 1 on YouTube which has already been released.  I won’t share again the many misgivings and insecurities that I’ve experienced over the last 8 months when first asked to be part of this amazing initiative. I can only say that God showed up big time in so many ways that I am still bathing in His Ruach this morning as I write this encouragement.   Being part of this experience has felt as if it advanced my walk with Him by light years, if that can even begin to describe the feeling.... Read More →

  On Easter weekend this past March, Sid and I were still in Florida. Our home there is on the east coast and our kids and grandson live on the west coast (of Florida). Although we don’t celebrate Easter, we made a plan to drive there to St. Petersburg to enjoy the fun traditions associated with the holiday with our grandson– a basket of candy, bunny stuffies, treasure-filled eggs, paper grass, the works. Even better we were to babysit our grandson while their parents had a well deserved night out.   Such great plans in the works. After spending lots of time shopping at CVS to create a fun filled basket of goodies, Sid and I went to our RV only to find it had been towed!!!... Read More →

  These have been days of joy, but unusual trial as well. This week held plans of not only travel to and from MA and ME per usual, but also a trip to visit family in Denver, not to mention Sid’s birthday and our anniversary. Lots of pieces needed to fall into place.   So this morning when the train began to derail and the domino effect started down the many possibilities of the “Now what do we do?” began, it was clear that our Abba had more important lessons I was to learn.   Let’s just start with our drive to Ruach on Shabbat . . .   This particular Shabbat was the bat mitzvah of Elizabeth Hansen which, by the way, was off the chart amazing in so many ways. Instead,... Read More →

  I have shared with you in the past my hesitation, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy regarding a request to participate in a film series produced by Our Daily Bread highlighting faith stories of “Unshakable Moxie”. Last summer after much prayer and conversation I agreed to be part of this endeavor. I put thoughts of the project on a shelf in my mind until I would need to think about it.   That day has arrived as the scouting trip by Julie the producer and Matt the lead videographer occurred this week with the actual filming on location to occur in Maine at my home and surrounding areas during the last week of June. Over the past several weeks with the overflowing plate of... Read More →

  Most of you know I’m a glass more than half full person and Sid often sees the glass a little more empty. We are a great combination since with his engineering background he often grounds my unicorn flying on rainbows ideas. Together we do pretty good planning most of the time, knowing the best planning comes from listening to our Abba.   During one of our adventures awhile back, we had encountered some unanticipated engine problems with our RV. It decided to break down as we were driving to the Adirondacks to go tent camping via Beacon, NY, as we squeezed in a visit to our kids and grandkids “on the way”. Yes, you’re right, the way from Maine to the Adirondacks is not via... Read More →

  I recently saw a movie by that title, “One Life”, starring Anthony Hopkins. It is the story of Nicky Winton, a London financial executive, who created and orchestrated by train the rescue of almost 700 Jewish children from Czechoslovakia just prior to Nazi occupation. The story is told in retrospect when Nicky is 79 years old which by that perspective provides a myriad of insights.   Although Nicky miraculously succeeded in getting 8 trains of children to safety, he is haunted by the thoughts of the children he couldn’t save. Unfortunately, the last train of almost 250 children was stopped by the Nazis on the day of occupation. The amount of effort, finances, and willingness... Read More →

  I’m writing this Shabbat encouragement on Mother’s Day as I look at the lake from my bedroom window at Pilgrim Pines. Sid and I are here this weekend for the (hopefully second annual) Ruach Shabbaton. Despite the forecast of rain the weather has been perfect, cool but gorgeous.   Enormous thanks to those who worked tirelessly to make this “adult camping” experience a reality – Shayna and Vicki last year, Cheryl, Betty, Brandon, Vicki, Sue, Rabbi Nathan, countless others – So much work, but so worth it to those you have served.   The Shabbaton is designed to be just that – a time away from our secular lives to be with God and our community. As a retreat it takes our... Read More →

  What a week. . . What timing for remembrance. . .   As earlier this week we paused to remember the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah, I couldn’t help but think about its perfect timing in these days of unrest centered on the very topic of anti-Semitism.  Our collective memory of such a seemingly unthinkable event as the allowance of the killing of six million Jews was jarred all the more as we are able to see how insidiously such hatred can reappear even in these days. As President Biden so meaningfully stated in his address on this topic, we must not surrender our future to the horrors of the past by succumbing to hatred of the other.   In these times it takes immense courage... Read More →

  Last week when we were discussing Moses we noodled about our feelings of inadequacy and even fear when seemingly called upon by our Abba to serve Him in ways outside of our comfort zones. Personally, I find myself in this situation quite often as I share the Good News with others through media and performance that grow me since these are activities that often challenge my natural inclinations.   One such time is upon me at the present. I’m preparing to be part of a video series and feeling insecure about it. So when I listened to the story of Moses I was reminded that he, too, felt these same feelings when called to serve. He, too, sought God often through prayer. If even a... Read More →

  This is such a holy season. Not that every day isn’t, but this Passover in particular I have felt the lessons we are to learn even more pointedly.   Last Shabbat I listened to the beautiful harmonies of the “Song of Moses” during services, immersed in the liturgy, and then felt as if Rabbi Rich’s sermon was speaking directly to me. As he shared insights on the week’s teachings, the words describing our feelings of inadequacy when prompted to serve in ways outside our comfort zones were so true. We so often feel like Moses must have felt, as we think, “Why me, Lord? I can’t do this.”   That is the very point. When we can’t He does it through us. We are reminded that we... Read More →