As I sit in my sunroom meditating, I notice a squirrel climbing high up one tree (in my yard) to hop over to another (in the neighbor's yard). There is no sun today, however. The sky is gray and overcast.

According to weather.com the temperature (in zip code 80232) is 4 degrees Fahrenheit and feels like -13 degrees. According to my body it's just plain cold.

According to my eyes, the trees are barren (with the exception of the evergreens, of course) and the ground is covered in snow.

How does the squirrel not freeze? How does the squirrel not starve? How does the squirrel cliimb so high in the trees and leap from one to the other without fear of falling?

I suppose the simple answer is that the squirrel is doing what it is meant to do in life.

Isn't life aweful? That is to say, isn't life filled with moments of awe?

It's too bad that a squirrel isn't able to appreciate the beauty and mystery of life the way I can. I can say for certain that I've witnessed squirrels scampering about in play (as I'm sure you have, too). So, they obviously can experience some type of joy. Additionally, the squirrel probably also never feels that life is "awful." Maybe I don't need to, either.

I believe that when we do what we are meant to do in life, we too can succeed in endeavors that may seem wholly improbable to others. And, that life never needs to feel "awful." Fortunately for us, we *do* get experience life as aweful.

Thanks for the lesson today, squirrel.

In love, peace, and true purpose,
Marc

Early Tuesday morning (November 17) the Leonid meteor shower made its annual appearance. I went into my backyard and lay in the snow from about 1:45 am - 2:15 am and stared at the sky. While I would love to have witnessed meteor after meteor blaze across the sky, I ended up witnessing only three very brief streaks of light. But, the sky why still beautiful and clear. And, it was a wonderfully relaxing (if somewhat chilly) experience lying in the snow staring at the sky.

So, while I didn't get a spectacular display of cosmic events, I still gained much from taking the time out to do something a little out of the ordinary. First and foremost, I gave myself the chance to experience that state of child-like wonder that we so often lose as adults. Another major benefit I took from the experience was that lesson that even though on the surface nothing appeared to be going on, that didn't change the reality that somewhere in the world there were others viewing that vast sky and seeing a completely different picture. And that is the real message I am delivering with this blog posting.

Just because we may not be able to perceive something with any of our five senses, that does not mean that that "something" does not exist. There is always more going on in the world than we are able to witness and confirm for ourselves.

Thanks for stopping by,
Marc

Well the Rick Recht concert was a huge success, as far as I'm concerned. What's that? Who's Rick Recht and what's this concert to which you are referring? Ooops! My fault. I guess I haven't been good about posting. Or have I mentioned this in a previous post? Last night at my congregation we hosted a national touring Jewish musician, Rick Recht, and his band. You can listen to some of his music here:

http://jewishworldproductions.com/player_rr.php

Rick is a great musician and a great person. Last night was the wonderful reward for a lot of hard work on the part of a lot of people, myself included. You see, I am the Music Coordinator at my temple and I decided that I wanted to bring Rick there to perform a concert.

The planning for the concert is just one of many things that has been keeping me busy lately. I won't bore you with the details, though. Instead, let's get to the point of the title of this posting.

I have completed the third version of my first short story. In fact, I completed it early one morning on October 28. Now it's just sitting waiting for edits and revisions.

I completed the first draft of an essay called "Plagiarizing Descartes" in the evening on October 27. It, too, is awaiting edits and revisions.

I can't remember if I had previously mentioned that I completed the first draft of a seminar called "Living a life of abundance: Now is the perfect time to start living the life of your dreams." Yet another piece awaiting edits and revisions. However, at least for this one I have been doing additional research and reading to improve it.

One book that has me feeling inspired is "The Passion Test" by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood. I am working on creating my "Vision Board."

So, what can I do about these things all coming along so slowly?

I can love myself and be patient with myself. And in the course of doing so I can learn to love and be patient with all others. I am willing to devote whatever time is necessary to this undertaking.

Sure, progress sometimes comes slowly. But, isn't anything worth having also worth working for and waiting for?

In peace, love, and true purpose,
Marc

p.s. We got hit with another snow storm last night!

Do we live in a finite [system of] universe[s] that only seems infinite? Or do we live in an infinite [system of] universe[s] that only seems finite?

If it is true that neither energy nor matter are created or destroyed, then wouldn't there have to be a finite amount? And if it is true that E=mc^2, then isn't it also true that energy and matter keep interchanging infinitely?

If space is finite, then what is its shape? Where are its boundaries? Inside what does space exist?

If space is infinite, the what is its shape? Inside what does space exist? Where do you really "go" when you venture into space? Can you really "go" or "arrive" anywhere?

Here is my suggestion for reducing global warming and caring for the environment --

Go vegetarian, or better yet vegan!

I don't have time to go into a long justification right now, but you can do more research on your own.

Veg*nism uses far fewer resources and generates far fewer emissions. Additionally, it enables so many more people to be fed.

Consider becoming veg*n for environmental reasons if not for any of the other ethical ones.

Peace,
Marc

Kol Nidre was Sunday, Sep. 27 and Yom Kippur was Monday, Sep. 28.

My mom visited us Sep. 30 - Oct 5. My dad stayed home with the doggie and 'cause is recently unretired with a part-time job.

I had some new clients to catch up with for the handyman business after my mom went back home. I've purchased an air compressor to do sprinkler system blowouts and have completed a few blowouts, including my own system.

Tim Kelley signed up as a member and service provider on Self Actualization Resource. Do you think you would be a good service provider?

Simchat Torah was Friday, Oct. 9. I coordinated and played in the band at services.

Saturday, Oct. 10 was my 10 year anniversary.

Sunday, Oct. 11 I started the planning efforts for the Rick Recht concert I am bringing to Congregation Beth Evergreen on November 14, 2009.

I've got a few handyman projects I need to work on this coming week.

Almost one year ago to the day I was hiking in Deer Creek Canyon and I came across a rattle snake. On my hike there today, which was just my second time there, I came across another one. These are the only two times I have seen rattle snakes in Colorado, and believe me, I have done plenty of hiking. So, rattle snakes are 2 for 2 in Deer Creek Canyon.

and so can all of yous who so choose!

Kol Nidre begins on Sunday, September 27 at sunset. This is the start of one of the biggest holidays in the Jewish Calendar -- Yom Kippur. Kol Nidre means all vows. It is during this service that we ask to be released from all vows that we made during the past year on which we have failed to follow through. Yom Kippur means day of atonement. In fact, during the ten days from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur we are supposed to be seeking forgiveness for the wrongdoings which we have committed against humans. On Yom Kippur we are seeking forgiveness from God. In the Jewish tradition not even God can grant forgiveness for wrongdoings we have committed against humans, as it is only the person who has been wronged who can grant forgiveness. So, one places oneself in a particularly difficult situation when the person who has been wronged is no longer able to grant forgiveness, such as when that person has been killed.

What about wrongs we have committed against non-humans? Can animals grant forgiveness? Can the earth grant forgiveness?

There is a Jewish story that instructs us to repent the day before we die. When one asks, "But how do we know the day we are going to die?" we are told that is exactly the issue. We don't know when we are going to die. So, we must live each day as if that could be the day before we die and must repent daily. Don't wait for Yom Kippur!

I hope that my presence in this community has been more of a blessing than a curse. Please forgive me of any wrongdoings I committed, either knowingly or unknowingly. I promise that I have done the best that I have been able and further promise to continue to work to grow my awareness of all my actions and to continue to work to focus them ever more on the greater good.

L'Shana Tova v'tikateivu v'tichateimu,
To a good year and may you be written and sealed [in the book of Life]

Friday night marks the start of the Jewish new year. I have been busy with my music coordinator duties at my congregation.

I have also been busy checking items off my to-do list!

I feel like I am making good progress emptying myself and creating more space to grow.

Projects are slowly trickling back into my handyman business; I think that the storm that tore through the neighborhood really disrupted things. It's nice to be able to earn some money.

How are you enjoying the last days of summer?

Thanks for stopping by,
Marc

I've got my five questions for the third version of the short story.
The web applications are up and running on Self Actualization Resource, and I'm actively engaged in populating the resource database.
I've completed the first draft of my first presentation/seminar: "Living a Life of Abundance: Now Is the Perfect Time to Start Living the Life of Your Dreams."

Yippee!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Marc