A real Shabbat (Saturday-what other day would it be?)

I decided I needed to rest for Shabbat so I sadly chose to turn down an afternoon trip to Kamakura where the giant Buddha lives. This morning, we had a little lunch and learn with a lovely discussion about Israel, end of life issues, Jewish law, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and repentance, and of course, more yum eating! Karen (Craig’s wife) does such a great job of putting together these meals and taking care of the really important details which make this community function as it does.

After lunch, I went home, did some resting and then two wonderful things:

I studied because it was Shabbat. When was the last time I got to do that? Granted, I did reading for school, but I took no notes and I just read to read it. Prophets by HEschel-FASCINATING view of who the prophets were, how they functioned, how God functioned through them , interesting theology of God-so forth and so on. It felt like Shabbat and that was the point. And it worked, I needed to have a little Jewish time in the midst of my military time. It has been easy to be absorbed with the work. Someone sent an email saying they hopes I could find time to pray…it had not even occurred to me to try…It was important, wonderful…

And then, I got to work out! Now, I know that is not everyone’s cup of tea-but I do love it and have been feeling so tired that I have not made it a priority-but not working out adds to my sense of lethargy and tiredness. I’m an addict (in the good, moderate way, not in the sick, excessive, scary way) and it felt good to be moving. Pretty ideal for Shabbat.

I know, this post is not so news worthy…so here are some pictures from Rosh Hashanah day which I forgot to add…(my aunt requested I put some up with ME in them...so here I am-in the Tokyo post, there is one of me in front of the Imperial Palace because Chaplain Bradshaw said I needed to send some pictures of myself to my mom-see-always thinking about family)