Fellowship
Hi,
I am trying to post a little message, although I doubt that too many people ever read it. Anyway, hi- happy times to all for Decembers' festivities!
I have posted a URL in the field link dropdown, Go to the blog on Jewfaq.org to let you know what sort of recreation I have allowed myself for the day (the 12th of Dec 07). Usually, I have no time for any of the things that I mean to do, because the work time is interrupted by the needs to housekeep, shop, answer the phone, make lunch and coffee for my husband (who works at night) and so on.
I just thought that you might find the site owners' blog quite an interesting and controvertial document. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The posting for the 11th of Decembr '07 is an article about the true spelling of Channuckah. Americans spell it Hanukah, I think. I'm confused!
I have successfully published a work about interfaith experience recently. On top of two years writing time, my edit, formatting and graphics took a hefty 10 months out of the year, believe it or not. Researching the spelling for the word Channukah took a minute or so, and I was a bit embarrassed to find out how much the English spelling had been modified. I have grade school spelling of some universal things and, like many older people , I watch the world go bye and come again, wearing noma lights and pumpkin comments on it.
I don't know - we elders are die hards about some changes- why isn't our education good enough (we inwardly feel)?
As youth, we all quoted the saying "ya can't teach an old dog new tricks". I believed that as a young person. Now, I am happy to say that I can write an online blog, do xhtml for my sites, use a digital camera and an online photos post, email friends anywhere- all because a friend believed that people of any age could learn and improve.
My friend busted his ass getting a computer purchased for us. He was terribly poor, like me. At first, he took me to the library to learn how to use Windows on the computers donated to libraries by Industry Canada. I am still grateful to them for the chance at learning. But, more to the point, I am grateful to my beloved friend and companion.
He believed in us. He pounded away with great frustration upon the new computer, while I secretly worried that a computer would explode, if I just touched it the wrong way. My friend had grown up with A.D.D. Attention Deficit Disorder.
A.D.D. is actually mostly from mercury poisoning, and it is one of three types of autism. In the aged of days (our school years) educators had not come to grips with the needs of children who suffered from ADD.
The schools' systems segregated these special children, treating them as if they were retarded.
My friend told me about his journey within his own set of statistics, and about how the teachers yelled at him, and how they insulted him, so often. I noticed the angry fanaticism with which he tried (though valiantly) to teach me about computer use. I realized that he was acting out the cruelty of his teachers in grade school.
Now that we have taken Community College courses (mine, web- his, computer repair and DOS) we were both able to see that he had way greater capabilities than educators had allowed for,or believed in, in the past. He, for instance, committed DOS and the necessities for computer setup to memory, and passed with the highest percentage of anyone who had taken that program.
He is terribly humble, and he often has to repeat and repeat efforts to untangle the meaning and use of some of these systems. But now, seven years later, he is a web site host. He hosts our various websites himself! These skills, web design included, make him a web developer ( pretty close to a computer scientist).
My Hanukah day of creativity and relaxation centre upon him, today. He has to go to work (he works as an industrial cleaner for bucks). Today I express gratefulness for the hope in his heart, and in the hearts of those educators who have cherished each of our true abilities, until they glow with purpose, and transcend into our own spiritual identity, within the great body of faith that runs and supports planet earth.
Let the candles be lit for love, for faith, for the power in each of us to believe in higher purpose. May they shine for the love of humanity, for the hope within each of us that there will always be a better road ahead.
We both (I grew up with epilepsy) are two little humble ducks. We have moderate means, and we work too hard for what little we earn. But we can still make our mark, now - as worldwide contributors to and through internet processes.
If we cannot afford to buy books, or have too little time to go to the library, we are able to reach a wealth of information offered for free on W3. I have even published my book through an Internet process (Lulu.com) Actually, I have just finished my second work- a photo arts book called Deep Purple.
I am going to light candles, trees, lanterns, and hearts (with little gifts) this year, like every year. But there is nothing deeper than the true light of determined faith in people like my beloved husband. And he claims to be an atheist?
To you, the people who feel shunned and refuted as full human beings- African Americans, Jews, des religieux, people with disabilities, Islam - to you I wish peace, joy, merriment, acceptance, and especially, the determination to succeed that comes from within your own sense of love and faith.
To all, Happy Holidays, and as Ann Landers used to say "Kwitchabitchen!" !!!
