Monday, February 23, 2015

Standing By My Side - Part 2

Hello Grafted In Reader,
Today remains bitter cold outdoors in my corner of blogland, and is Monday, February 23. The weekend was busy enough. My wife and I had a quiet Shabbat and made our own dinner theater of sorts, as we had French Onion Soup (homemade) while listening to the public radio broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" online. I enjoy most of the music and online narratives created by Garrison Keillor and the acting company along with guests that make up each two-hour show. The focus was somewhat on the winter season, and it along with all the other seasons are something humanly shared.

On Sunday, I ran across an article that talked of about 1,000 Muslim youth holding a peaceful demonstration outside a synagogue in Oslo, Norway. They were quietly denouncing the terrorist activity effecting their lives and those of others in Denmark and across Europe. Norway is said to have a Jewish population of about 1300 citizens in a country of about 5.17 million. To me it demonstrates God cares about the great among us and the small among us.

For pleasure I started reading a 2001 novel by fiction writer, Elizabeth McCracken titled "Niagara Falls All Over Again". It is a lighthearted bio, fictional account, of two men who form a comedy team in the 1930s that ultimately breaks up after a 30-year run due to an ongoing tension. There are serious incidents within the pages, but overall quite entertaining and enjoyable.

It is my custom to bid us Kevod Yeheveh, Hebrew, meaning - the presence of God, and I generally add a further notation. The presence of God be at our side today and always.
Thank you for your visit and comments!
Mellow Roc

Thursday, February 19, 2015

*** 1000 Voices Speak For Compassion

Hello Grafted In Readers!
My blog post for Friday, February 20, 2015, is somewhat monumental. I am joining about 1000 other human beings around the world who are speaking for compassion. So as to blend with the ensomble, I present a definition for compassion, and hope we can all make that a part of our personal portfolio before others.
Definition of Compassion from online dictionary:
"Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others."
Synonyms for Compassion: empathy, fellow-feeling, care, concern, solicisutude, sensitivty and warmth.
Compassion Quote from Brainyquote.com
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion; if you want to be happy, practice compassion." Dalai Lama
"The Ruach HaKodesh (Spirit of Adonai) is upon me; because Adonai has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted; to proclaim liberty to them who are bruised; and the opening of prison to them who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our G-d. Comfort all that mourn." Hebrew Scriptures Isaiah 61.

Mellow Roc