Focus

Like everyone else, I've been dismayed, sad, and disturbed about the entire string of recent events, from the natural disasters in Mexico City and the Caribbean to the shooting in Las Vegas. I've started several posts here, only to abandon them, not wanting to add to the river of words already flooding our lives. Besides, I feel that a lot of the discourse misses the point, and until I find the right way to express my own feelings, I'm better off keeping quiet.

So I've returned to painting, and specifically, to this particular painting that I put away a while back, not quite satisfied with it at the time. In the past two days I've finished it, and was happy to be able to see what needed to be done. Painting, writing, music, dance, gardening, knitting, walking in the woods: we need to do whatever it is that brings us back to our center and allows us to continue in the face of loss, grief, anger, and lack of hope. There is always hope, and the spirit is always deeper and stronger than we think. Here is a good post on taking care of oneself, from my dear friend Rabbi Rachel Barenblat. And I hope you will consider sending some funds to the areas hardest hit by hurricanes and earthquakes. Our help is needed, and that is something we can all do.