Guest Blog by Nan Toby Tyrrell
For me, when the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah comes in September, it’s a time that I relish. It provides me a chance to look into the deepest parts of myself and examine what changes I can make to live a better life.
How can I find ways to honor myself as well as others in my life. That may include my family – my son, my daughter-in-law, and my grandson who begins his sophomore year in high school in Denver. That includes members of Bet Shira, my congregation, as well as members of QUUF.
It’s been a challenging and fruitful year for me in many ways. I have learned to depend on myself more, as well as reaching out to neighbors.
The beginning of Rosh Hashanah signifies for me the chance for repentance and turning inward to find the deepest parts of myself that I want to accept as well as change. It’s the season of autumn as well as the harvest as well as the time to acknowledge joys. These joys come from living in a community that seeks justice for women and men and children and teenagers as well as the homeless. During Rosh Hashanah I have an opportunity to widen my heart and soul and go beyond my own fears – to grow in my understanding and what I think G-d wants for me. It’s my relationship with a kind and compassionate G-d. although I do not follow orthodox Judaism, I practice the rituals that enrich my personal daily life – those values that my mother and father and aunts and uncles and cousins have shared with me. This means embracing kindness, justice, and compassion for others. This also means letting go of anger and resentment and regret and live with a renewed sense of purpose.
How can I be of service to others in a meaningful way?
How can I reach out to my sister and friends?
What is preventing me from doing the right actions?
All these questions rise when I take time to consider the significance of a new season, a new year to make better choices. It’s a chance for renewal of your own spirit. The creation of the world each day begins with how I live and honor this gift of life.
The Hebrew words Shanah Tova mean a good year and I hold hopes that others will find new ways to embrace love and kindness and acts of mercy to make our world cleaner and safer.
It’s a daunting task to really embrace the responsibility I have in the universe. In the words of Hillel, “If not now, when?”
I want to learn how to forgive
and yet not forget.
There needs to be attention
given to what really matters
and for me that would be
opening my eyes and ears
wider to all this beauty
unfolding
right here and now.
September brings
this harvest in my heart,
what can I do each day
to be kinder,
to become more thoughtful,
to pray with intention
to let go of all that blinds
me to love,
not to fear the unknown,
laugh at my own mistakes
and move on
toward the sunlight
and water,
each morning
of my life,
with awe
and holiness
to begin again
one heartbeat at a time.
Nan Toby Tyrrell
Dear Nan, Thank-you for this inspiring writing. Like Jean, I appreciate your Letters to the Editor also and that you take the time to contribute in so many ways. And your poems. Blessings.
Nan, thank you for sharing your inspirational words, personal beliefs and history. Wishing you many blessings in the year ahead, Judy
Thanks, Nan, I’ve come to appreciate your writings more and more as time goes on. And thanks for taking the time to write thoughtful letters to the editor.
I love your writing and especially this poem…it is as beautiful as your music. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Nan for your thoughtful reflections on Rosh Hashanah and striving to live a better life. I particularly enjoyed your concluding poem.
Beautiful offering! Thanks Nan Toby. Love the depth and inherent questions in your poem too.
Thank you for sharing some of your Jewish culture, Nan Toby. I especially appreciated the words of Hillel.
Thank you Nan! Such caring and insightful words!