Hemlock Falls Soothes My Soul
Together or Alone Life is Worth Living
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 27 seconds
Over the weekend, I went on a hike to South Mountain Reservation, where I found peace and solitude. After walking for about thirty minutes, we stumbled upon Hemlock Falls. Waterfalls have always been a source of joy for me and my wife. We discovered this on our honeymoon and even took a photo of me on one of the boats beneath Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, the picture is lost forever.
It had been years since I took time off to hike with friends. Since my wife passed away, I have been spending most of my time helping other widows, which has been a rewarding experience. However, along the way, I realized that I needed to find my sense of direction. At times, I felt lost and unsure of my path.
I recently made two significant changes in my life to help me get back on track. Last month, my fellow trustees elected me as the Board Chair for Bridges. I am thrilled about this opportunity to help the organization achieve its goals and become more effective. Additionally, I have decided to stop facilitating grief groups. Leaving the groups will be a difficult but necessary step for me. I am taking things one day at a time and learning to navigate my path towards Tikun Olam.
The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.
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Illumine My Life’s Path
Together or Alone Life is Worth Living
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 27 seconds
I was privileged to read a passage about illuminating our life's path for Kol Nidre this year. The selection of words amazed me as they reflected my current circumstances. Although I still have questions and need clarification, reflecting on how a few words profoundly impact our lives is inspiring. "How shall we come to know the purpose of our existence?" The answer seems obvious, yet it can be challenging to comprehend. As someone who was part of a couple for almost fifty years and now is alone, I often wonder about the purpose of my existence. While I can live alone indefinitely, I miss having a life partner and soul mate. But as the last part of my reading said, "Be gracious to us, answer us, empower us, and give us courage, for the answers are both in You and with You." It's comforting to know that the answers we seek are within us and that we have the power to find them.
