Good afternoon, Chaverim/Chaverot,
Another simple, but profound, quote…this time from the great Jimi Hendrix!
Here is today’s Gratitude Thought in the Midst of a Pandemic:
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
Jimi Hendrix
The “love of power” is on stark display these days, in our own country and throughout the world, along with the polarization, disharmony, acrimony, conflict…and even all out war…that too often flows from it. It feels overwhelming…we can’t ignore it, it’s literally everywhere we look…and it seems to be getting worse by the day.
In his too short life, Jimi Hendrix learned and shared the secret…that peace and harmony flow from love. And, it feels pretty obvious that we need more love in our world, as another popular songwriter from the Hendrix era, Burt Bacharach, wrote…”what the world needs now, is love, sweet love”.
As Jews we are each commanded and obligated to “love thy neighbor as thyself”. With too many of the “lovers of power” in our world stoking fear, and the ancient hatred of Jews that too often accompanies it, how should we/will we respond? Can we/will we love ourselves enough to respond in our defense? And, can we/will we find it within ourselves to love our misguided “neighbors” enough to anchor that defense in the love that resides within us rather than from fear and hatred?
As we sit in the quiet of our upcoming holy day services, may we each find gratitude for our many blessings and the ability to access and share our “love, sweet love”, sending it out into every corner of our world that so desperately needs to “know peace”.
Love, Shabbat Shalom, and L’Shana Tova to all,
Marci
