To Batya

It is nearing sunset, the Shekhinah is about to descend, when we let go of the real world for a time, to enter our deepest selves. To connect with some larger force that helps us be better human beings.

I've known this certain woman for several years. We met in cyberspace on my long distance healing prayer list, and even spoke on the phone once or twice. We never did get the opportunity to meet in person, but we kept in touch. I knew she was ill, and it was touch and go for awhile. Things were going well, and I realized a few months ago that I hadn't heard from her in quite awhile. Fearing the worst, I sent emails. Up until a few weeks ago, they didn't get bounced back. I now began to realize that she must have passed away, and I had no way of really knowing, since I'd had no contact with anyone in her family or anyone who knew her from the prayer list. At work today, it was pretty slow, and my mind began to wander. I googled her name, and the first thing to come up was a wonderful article in a local newspaper about her passing. She was a real activist in the city where she lived and worked, and well-respected by all her knew her.

Batya's yahrzeit is coming up, and I'd like to honor her somehow. It feels kind of weird to want to write her husband a short note, but I want for him to know that she touched another soul, many miles away. So, then, with her life passing like a soft, quiet, but deep and wise wave, I'd like to offer an opportunity for each of us to focus on what truly matters in this world: each other. We have a responsibility to each other to be stewards for one another, and for the place in which we live. This doesn't mean sowing seeds of enmity and out-of-control power and ego. There is so much hatred and venom present in the world today, we need to be on hyper-alert towards its effects.

Rather than separating the "haves" from the "have-nots" -- and that's with anything that is esteemed in our culture, from large screen tvs to smart phones to fake boobs to no wrinkles -- we need to do away with classifications that shackle people into certain groups. You're gonna be rich, or not. You're gonna be successful, or not. You're gonna be loved, or not. Hey, we all don't have the benefit of a "perfect" life; some of us are starving, some of us can't get the help we need to honestly get back on our feet, some of us are ill and suffering. Some of us are even near death. Or, maybe even rebirth.


The world feels splintered in many ways. Jagged, deep schisms exist between all the humans on this planet. Tower of Babel is right. Why? Why are we all yelling at each other? Why are we all trying to control each other? What are we attempting to accomplish? It should be Wisdom, Trust, and Truth. Instead, it's a bunch of DISses.... DIS-respect for each other, DIS-ease, DIS-trust, and DIS-connect.

We have the responsibility to repair this world, that is why we are here. In what ways do we contribute to the betterment of this universe? It can be anything as small as rescuing the wayward spider or lizard, and putting it back outside where it belongs, to flying halfway across the world to help in the repair of a child's deformity, to being an honest business person and helping people procure whatever it is they need to get along in their lives. We all give something back as thanks for the gift of life. Perhaps, our contribution is something we can focus on. What we give of our energy and time, which ultimately is a finite quantity, so we'd better give it all we've got.

Come to peace about ourselves. Find what makes us want to get up in the morning. Come to terms with what we can change, and what we have to leave alone. What compromises are ok to make, and which ones are just way too depersonalizing, and making a choice to do what is right.

Thank you, Batya, for your courage, your joy, and your love. You are missed very much. Your memory is truly a blessing.