Reset

     I am participating in a book study regarding the Ten Commandments that has inspired some interesting thoughts.   The latest discussion was about honoring the Sabbath.   Frankly, I had not previously spent much time musing on the meaning of sabbath.  However the study did spark a surprising reaction.   The upshot is that I have begun to see sabbath as engaging in reset. By the term reset,  I mean to pause and rethink where I am going in life and relationships.

    It has been refreshing as sabbath should be, to see things with new eyes.   I have always moved merrily along for years without analyzing whether I am on the right path.   Here I am in my late eighties now recognizing that I have lived almost my entire life always engaged in striving to be productive whether at work or in volunteering.   I have concluded that I need to back off some things and take on fresh adventures at lower stress levels than in the past.  To that end I have already resigned from one activity and taken on a new one that gives me more comfortable socialization.

    Of course in this blog I feel obligated to comment on my skiing aspirations.   The new season is coming in a month or so.  My body is beginning to show the challenges of aging.   I made it to the slopes last season for 80 days.  In my reset mode, I am not sure I am up to that much activity this year.   I guess I will have to reset my goals and be less obsessed with numerical records and simply see skiing as an opportunity to refresh as needed.  

    I think that everyone whether they are religious or not or young or old, could benefit from interpreting sabbath as reset.    Seeing things through new eyes can reinvigorate and heal body and soul.

Shrinking Fritter

     My regular season ski companions often chide me for eating my apple fritter at coffee break.  I am known to consume a fritter on a daily basis without fail.  They usually remark on the size of the fritter!  For years my supplier has baked the fritters in house at the store and they were huge.   Not so anymore.   With the rise in inflation in the economy there is a trend to keep the price of food item the same but reduce the amount in a package without changing the price.  

   My fritter has succumbed to the change.  Now my fritters are shipped into the store from a central bakery supplier.   The size is so dinky compared to the originals that even the clerk at checkout noticed and sympathized.   Alas, I will have to adapt to this new era.  Perhaps it will be a good change to reduce my calorie consumption.  It makes me appreciate each bite I take with my coffee.  I now slow down and savor each morsel.

    In the bigger picture of the effect of inflation on maintaining our diet this is  a metaphor for the pain many families suffer.   Higher prices reducing buying power for many families increases the struggle to provide nutritious food.   For me the shrink is merely an inconvenience.   However, for many it can be hunger pains at the end of the month.   I have consistently provided food banks with monthly support out of my abundance.   Readers out of your abundance I would encourage you to do likewise!

Current Size Fritter - Previous was 50% Larger

Blind Spots

    A few days ago I was observing a conversation that had some disturbing elements to it.  A group of acquaintances was discussing the havoc to their second homes in Florida.  The range of damage ranged from minor to significant.   During the conversation I heard little sympathy for the permanent Florida residents that had lost everything and were homeless.   They all seemed completely focused on their losses.   I guess that is to be expected.  However it got me to thinking of how blind we who have comfortable means can be about those who struggle.  I know that I am no paragon of virtue in helping people, but I do hope that I have an awareness that will prod me to do some good.   Maybe if I had lost a second home I would be more sympathetic to the vacationers!

    In that same conversation I must say  I was appalled to hear remarks to the effect that brown and black skinned folks were  getting an unusual amount of help and relief.   The implication was that they were especially privileged.   A colleague remarked afterwards, that if that was the case were these folks ready to swap places.  The same group also were vehement climate change deniers.    I could not be silent on that and tried to point to the data to the contrary.   Sadly it made no dent in their convictions.   I guess I have to accept that sometimes people will believe what they want to believe and remain blind to the obvious.  However, when we cannot mutually accept truth in data I have to object.

    I know that I have been pointing fingers and feel that I will have to be more introspective on my own blind spots.   I trust I will be able to hear and absorb other points of view.