Way Markers to Joy
I ran this week; the first act of the week, after drop off, was to go for a very long run. I didn’t really think about it, working for myself, I am constantly in an ‘umm’ and an ‘errr’ between working and self-care. It is too easy to always work and likewise, all too easy to take long lunch breaks, coffees with mates or working-out time and runs. I think I get the balance right but let’s say, there is a lot of internal negotiation, lots of ‘umm’ and an ‘errr’.
The run was just the best thing, so much amazing sunshine, that spring, frosty mist rising up in all directions, lots of mud (there is always lots of mud) but also crispy frosty ground. I made my loop round the suburbs and back home, feeling fit and alive.
Our weekend contained a Friday night dinner to close our course 'Jewish&', which was a great exploration of what life looks like when a Jewish person and a non-Jewish person are in a serious relationship. It was a real look at what is a complex topic for Jewish community, but the chat and the learning was honest, raw and community building.
We also took part in a fundraiser with Camp Simcha…the campaign, ‘fighting illness with love’. We took on this campaign in honour of our beautiful daughter Lily who, now one year old, spent the first few months of her life in hospitals in London. Out the other side and not needing medical supervision or care at anything like the same level, we paid thanks to an organisation that gave us wonderful and meaningful support during those tough months. Camp Simcha sent our older kids toys, organised lifts for us to and from hospital, but most significantly connected us with other families who had similar experiences and offered us connected communal support. Camp Simcha last night hit their target and raised £2.8 million and we raised £12,000 as a fundraising team!
What do these three moments have in common? Simply moments of light, moments of seeing the best our world has to offer, moments which light the way of the work that needs to be done, the life I want to lead, the joy that is on offer if I am able to reach out.
There is plenty of darkness to fill many column inches, videos and chats, I know that. The world feels more scary by the day but there is hope too if we reach out.
In our Parsha, Tetzaveh, there are two markers, one is the Menorah that sits in the travelling Temple, the Mishkan and the Temple itself, the other is the priestly shield, a part of the High Priest’s clothing.
The Menorah is always lit; the priestly shield contains 12 stones, which represents the 12 Tribes of Israel; each in my mind represent unity and an aspect of communal and national focus. They are also way markers back to that sense of unity and connection.
A task for the week ahead, find the spiritual and physical way markers back to a sense of hope…don’t think on it too much, permit for your mind and body to take you there.
Let me know how you get on.
Shabbat shalom
x
