
Angetevka |
|
| With Bells On | |
by Angela Himsel, September 17, 2009 |
|
As a New Yorker, a Jew and a mother, September is a curious
mix of beginnings and endings. Every
year I remember and relive 9/11; every year, I celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the
beginning of the new year; and every year, my kids return to school with new
teachers, new classes and sometimes, a new school. This past week was filled with an almost eerie, concomitant sense
of beginnings/endings. It started when
my father called to tell me that the Dow had closed on 9/11 at 9605, the same
as it had eight years ago on 9/11/01. I
said what a funny coincidence. Daddy
said, "You think it's funny? I think
there's more to it than that."
Immediately, I understood that this "coincidence" was
actually a sign from the heavens, and since I am personally always looking for
signs from God, I asked daddy what he meant.
Daddy, however, said he didn't want to tell me but he was pretty sure
that the end times are closer than we think. The End Times have been close my entire life. That's what happens when you grow up evangelical on a farm in Indiana. In addition to wreaking havoc in the world, Satan and his demons were
never happier than when they were causing mayhem in our home. My father would often despair that, "Satan
has got one foot in the door!" at which my sister Mary would under her breath
say, "Well, slam the door, then."
A few days later, I was in
Chicago for my cousin Ruthe's fiftieth birthday celebration. A group of 19 women, we sat in a circle to
"gently welcome Ruthe" to her 50s.
Without going into too much detail, our hostess led us in a spiritual
ceremony that entailed lighting candles while sharing an intention for Ruthe,
presenting an "offering"--a poem, a gift, a letter--to her, and then writing
down on two separate pieces of paper what we personally wanted to close the
door on this year, and what we wanted to open the door to. The mental image of a door opening and
closing reminded me first of Mary's sarcastic "slam the door on Satan" comment,
and then, of Rosh Hashanah, ending the old year, beginning a new one. While the doorway is a transition in place,
Rosh Hashanah is a transition in time.
Both transitions have long been feared and for good reason--they offer one
the freedom to come and go, but they might also allow invisible, dark forces to
enter.
Within the Jewish tradition, the months of Elul and Tishri (September and October) correspond to the autumn equinox, which marks the transition between autumn and winter. This was the time when evil spirits roamed the earth. The gates of heaven were open, souls were awaiting justice, and with such openings, the evil spirits could slip in, as well. How to prevent them from entering? Bells on the hem of the High Priest's robes, and loud noises, like the blowing of a ram's horn, would scare them away.
College is the ultimate transitional place and space. It is a time between high school and getting a job, while living in a temporary place amongst a temporary group of people. We dropped our daughter off at college in Chicago, and as I watched her walk with the rest of her classmates under the arch that marks the entrance to the campus, I thought about Ruthe and how we gathered around to usher her from one place in time to the next. I thought, again, about my father and decided that he is right. It is the end times of a sort, for the times are always ending. Which means another time is beginning. On Rosh Hashanah, we'll close the door on 5769, and open it onto 5770. Gently, and with bells on, let's welcome the future.
Angetevka |
|
| What's What | |
by Angela Himsel, September 9, 2009 |
|
Angetevka |
|
| Staying Present | |
by Angela Himsel, September 2, 2009 |
|
Angetevka |
|
| What Not to Wear | |
by Angela Himsel, August 26, 2009 |
|
Angetevka Days |
|
| What If | |
by Angela Himsel, August 19, 2009 |
|