A Moment in the Stream
Sometimes it takes a tsunami or a terrible earthquake to make one think about his place in this world; just how big he is, just how important he is compared to all the other creatures who share this planet with us. For some people, a good break, a windfall can do the same. All of a sudden, they pick up the tab at the local bar, and lift their glass to bless all creatures large or small.
It's a wonderful thing to be released for an instant from the all of the normal thoughts, all of the general preoccupations, all of the anxieties, and the little pains and irritations and ambitions and automatic behaviors and knee jerk reactions. For a moment, we grow expansive. We have patience for our fellows. We realize, we're all in the same boat, and we figure, why not do it well. For a moment we realize this is a one way trip, and in a matter of minutes it'll all be over, and what we leave behind us, is for the most part very insignificant. And so with a smile…
It is our tradition to do this once a year. Of course, for the more religious ones amongst us, it takes us a month to really get into the mood. We blow the ram's horn early in the morning, and the sound reminds us of tsunami, of earthquake, of God on high, and of the universe. You purse your lips and blow a little hum into the ram's horn, and it comes out the other side, the sound of the trumpet, and of the infinite in nature. And having gone around another time, we say: the hell with the curses of the old; Let us welcome the new year with a blessing, with something sweet, and with new fruit.
We direct our attention to the head, and away from the tail, and we celebrate the wondrous miracle of being alive in this world, and share our happiness and our wonder with our fellow man.
Happy New Year