਍㰀昀漀渀琀 猀椀稀攀㴀㔀㸀㰀戀㸀䜀漀搀 圀攀愀爀猀 吀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀㰀⼀挀攀渀琀攀爀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀倀㸀ഀഀ A good piece of advice from the business world can help all of us. It guides me in choosing what to teach during a sermon. The advice is: There are two rules for succeeding in business. The first is: Never tell them everything you know. ਍㰀倀㸀一漀眀 愀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀㨀 䤀昀 䜀漀搀 眀漀爀攀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀 瀀愀爀挀栀洀攀渀琀 椀渀猀椀搀攀㼀  伀甀爀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀 挀漀渀琀愀椀渀猀Ⰰ 愀洀漀渀最 漀琀栀攀爀 眀漀爀搀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 匀栀攀洀愀Ⰰ 爀攀洀椀渀搀椀渀最 甀猀 琀栀愀琀 䜀漀搀 椀猀 伀渀攀⸀  䈀甀琀 䜀漀搀 搀漀攀猀渀ᤀ琠 渀攀攀搀 愀 爀攀洀椀渀搀攀爀 漀昀 琀栀愀琀⸀ഀഀ

By now, thinking I’m crazy, you’re probably wondering why I even suggest that God would wear tefillin. But this is exactly what is suggested in Rabbinic literature. First, look at the High Holy Day Supplement on page 19. You will need to trust my translation, because the translation on pages 21-22 does not accurately reflect this Hebrew phrase: ਍㰀倀㸀㰀䤀㸀䬀攀猀栀攀爀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀 栀攀爀ᤀ愠 氀ᤀ愠渀愀瘀㰀⼀䤀㸀ഀഀ

He showed the humble one the knot of His tefillin. ਍㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 栀甀洀戀氀攀 漀渀攀 椀猀 䴀漀猀攀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀椀猀 氀椀渀攀 爀攀昀攀爀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 琀椀洀攀 眀栀攀渀 䴀漀猀攀猀 爀攀焀甀攀猀琀攀搀 琀漀 猀攀攀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 昀愀挀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䜀漀搀 猀愀椀搀 愀氀氀 礀漀甀 挀愀渀 猀攀攀 椀猀 洀礀 戀愀挀欀⸀  圀椀琀栀 䜀漀搀 昀愀挀椀渀最 愀眀愀礀 昀爀漀洀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 䴀漀猀攀猀 渀漀琀 漀渀氀礀 猀愀眀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 戀愀挀欀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 愀氀猀漀 琀栀攀 欀渀漀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀 漀昀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 栀攀愀搀⸀ഀഀ

This is, anyway, the understanding of Rabbi Yehudah HaChasid of Regensburg (from the early 13th century), the ਍愀甀琀栀漀爀 漀昀 㰀䤀㸀匀栀椀爀 䠀愀欀愀瘀漀搀㰀⼀䤀㸀⸀ഀഀ

But at least seven centuries earlier, the Babylonian Talmud (Berakhot 6a) expresses the same idea, including answering my opening question: ਍㰀倀㸀刀⸀ 一愀栀洀愀渀 戀⸀ 䤀猀愀愀挀 猀愀椀搀 琀漀 刀⸀ 䠀椀礀礀愀 戀⸀ 䄀戀椀渀㨀 圀栀愀琀 椀猀 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䰀漀爀搀 漀昀 琀栀攀 唀渀椀瘀攀爀猀攀㼀 需 䠀攀 爀攀瀀氀椀攀搀 琀漀 栀椀洀㨀 圀栀漀 挀愀渀 戀攀 挀漀洀瀀愀爀攀搀 琀漀 夀漀甀爀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 䤀猀爀愀攀氀Ⰰ 愀 甀渀椀焀甀攀 渀愀琀椀漀渀 甀瀀漀渀 琀栀攀 攀愀爀琀栀⸀ ⠀䌀栀爀⸀ ㄀㜀㨀㈀㄀⤀  䘀漀爀 琀栀攀 戀攀渀攀昀椀琀 漀昀 琀栀漀猀攀 眀栀漀 愀爀攀 昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 䄀洀椀搀愀栀 昀漀爀 匀栀愀戀戀愀琀 䴀椀渀挀栀愀栀Ⰰ 眀爀椀琀琀攀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀 漀昀 䜀漀搀 椀猀㨀ഀഀ

Umee k’amkha Yisrael goy echad ba’aretz ਍㰀倀㸀伀甀爀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀 猀愀礀㨀 䜀漀搀 椀猀 㰀䤀㸀攀挀栀愀搀㰀⼀䤀㸀⸀  䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀 猀愀礀㨀 䤀猀爀愀攀氀 椀猀 㰀䤀㸀攀挀栀愀搀㰀⼀䤀㸀⸀ഀഀ

Again, like yesterday, I take you back to birkhot hashachar, the early morning blessings; to ਍愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 㰀䤀㸀戀攀爀愀欀栀愀栀㰀⼀䤀㸀 眀栀漀猀攀 眀漀爀搀椀渀最 栀愀猀 挀栀愀渀最攀搀 椀渀 洀漀猀琀 䌀漀渀猀攀爀瘀愀琀椀瘀攀 猀椀搀搀甀爀椀洀⸀  吀栀攀 琀爀愀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀氀 氀椀琀甀爀最礀 猀愀礀猀Ⰰ ഀഀ Barukh she’lo asani ishah—intended for a man to declare joy at having the maximum number of mitzvot ਍琀漀 漀戀猀攀爀瘀攀⸀  䤀渀猀琀攀愀搀Ⰰ 洀攀渀 愀渀搀 眀漀洀攀渀 猀愀礀 㰀䤀㸀戀愀爀甀欀栀 猀栀攀ᤀ愠猀愀渀椀 戀ᤀ琠稀愀氀洀漀㰀⼀䤀㸀᐀䤠 愀洀 最爀愀琀攀昀甀氀 琀漀 戀攀 洀愀搀攀 椀渀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 椀洀愀最攀⸀ഀഀ

And we also return to the 3 B’s, for this is our daily affirmation of belief. The God in whom I believe—I wear tefillin to remember Him; He wears tefillin to remember Me. Quite an image! ਍㰀倀㸀䤀昀 漀渀氀礀 椀琀 眀攀爀攀 猀漀 攀愀猀礀 琀漀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀⸀  圀攀 愀爀攀 栀愀氀琀攀搀 椀渀 漀甀爀 猀瀀椀爀椀琀甀愀氀 琀爀愀挀欀猀Ⰰ 琀栀漀甀最栀Ⰰ 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 洀漀猀琀 漀昀 甀猀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 琀爀甀氀礀 猀攀渀猀攀 琀栀愀琀 椀洀愀最攀 椀渀 漀甀爀 洀椀渀搀猀Ⰰ 椀渀 漀甀爀 猀漀甀氀猀⸀  䘀漀爀 洀愀渀礀Ⰰ 䜀漀搀 椀猀 眀栀愀琀 眀攀 爀攀愀搀 愀戀漀甀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 吀漀爀愀栀Ⰰ 椀渀 琀栀攀 䴀愀挀栀稀漀爀 琀漀搀愀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀椀搀搀甀爀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 礀攀愀爀⸀  䈀甀琀 昀愀挀攀 椀琀Ⰰ 椀琀ᤀ猠 栀愀爀搀 琀漀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀⸀ഀഀ

If that’s how you feel, I am sympathetic, but I’m not going to let you off the hook so easy. ਍䄀猀 䤀 猀愀椀搀 礀攀猀琀攀爀搀愀礀Ⰰ 戀攀椀渀最 愀 䨀攀眀Ⰰ 戀攀椀渀最 㰀䤀㸀礀椀猀爀愀攀氀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 椀猀 愀 猀琀爀甀最最氀攀⸀  䘀椀渀搀椀渀最 䜀漀搀 琀愀欀攀猀 攀昀昀漀爀琀⸀ഀഀ

Some get to feel the closeness of God’s presence. In I Kings 18, the prophet Elijah gathers the Israelites, builds an altar, pours water over the sacrificial bull three times, and prays, “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God.” Fire descends from heaven and consumes everything, whereupon the people fling themselves on their faces and cry out, “The Lord alone is God! The Lord alone is God!” ਍㰀倀㸀䨀吀匀 瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀漀爀 一攀椀氀 䜀椀氀氀洀愀渀Ⰰ 椀渀 栀椀猀 戀漀漀欀Ⰰ 㰀䤀㸀吀爀愀挀攀猀 漀昀 䜀漀搀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 挀漀洀洀攀渀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 眀椀猀栀攀猀 栀攀 眀攀爀攀 最爀愀渀琀攀搀 眀栀愀琀 ഀഀ Elijah is—irrefutable proof of God’s existence. But he knows that Elijah’s story is an exception. Nonetheless, ਍䐀爀⸀ 䜀椀氀氀洀愀渀 栀攀氀瀀猀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀琀 漀昀 甀猀Ⰰ 㰀䤀㸀礀椀猀爀愀攀氀㰀⼀䤀㸀Ⰰ 椀渀 愀 猀甀挀挀攀猀猀昀甀氀 猀琀爀甀最最氀攀 琀漀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 䜀漀搀 眀栀漀 椀猀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀⼀漀昀琀攀渀 ഀഀ hard to recognize. ਍㰀倀㸀䬀渀漀挀欀Ⰰ 欀渀漀挀欀⸀  ⠀圀栀漀ᤀ猠 琀栀攀爀攀㼀⤀  一漀戀漀搀礀⸀  ⠀一漀戀漀搀礀 眀栀漀㼀⤀ ⸀ ⸀ ⸀ 攀砀愀挀琀氀礀⸀  吀栀攀爀攀ᤀ猠 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 漀甀琀 琀栀攀爀攀㬀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀猀 椀琀ᤀ猠 愀 瘀漀椀挀攀 琀栀愀琀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀 栀攀愀爀搀⸀ഀഀ

Regarding this Elijah story, Jewish philosopher Emil Fackenheim asks: What would Elijah have done if God had not answered his call? Fackenheim, answering his own question says with certainty: One thing is clear. Elijah would have continued to work for God, even in the face of God’s silence. ਍㰀倀㸀吀栀椀猀 挀漀洀洀攀渀琀 爀攀洀椀渀搀猀 甀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 爀攀挀攀渀琀 猀琀漀爀椀攀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 䴀漀琀栀攀爀 吀攀爀攀猀愀Ⰰ 眀栀漀猀攀 瀀漀猀琀栀甀洀漀甀猀氀礀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀攀搀 氀攀琀琀攀爀猀  搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀 愀 搀攀挀愀搀攀猀 氀漀渀最 挀爀椀猀椀猀 漀昀 昀愀椀琀栀Ⰰ 搀甀爀椀渀最 眀栀椀挀栀 琀椀洀攀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 琀爀甀氀礀 昀攀攀氀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀⸀  䈀甀琀 眀栀愀琀 搀椀搀 猀栀攀 搀漀㼀  匀栀攀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀 琀漀 愀琀琀攀渀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 渀攀攀搀椀攀猀琀 漀昀 䌀愀氀挀甀琀琀愀⸀  䔀瘀攀渀 椀昀 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 昀攀攀氀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀Ⰰ 椀琀 椀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 漀甀爀 搀甀琀礀 琀漀 搀漀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 眀漀爀欀⸀ഀഀ

A billboard contains a quotation from God, saying: Do you think I sit around and wonder if you exist? ਍㰀倀㸀䐀攀甀琀攀爀漀渀漀洀礀 㐀㨀㌀Ⰰ 椀渀 爀攀洀椀渀搀椀渀最 甀猀 栀漀眀 琀漀 爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀 椀渀 漀甀爀 氀椀瘀攀猀 愀渀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀Ⰰ 猀愀礀猀 猀椀洀瀀氀礀Ⰰ ഀഀ Your eyes have seen what the Lord did. If you can’t see God, surely you can see the results of God’s work. ਍㰀倀㸀圀攀 氀漀漀欀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 眀漀渀搀攀爀猀 漀昀 渀愀琀甀爀攀Ⰰ 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀椀渀最 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀挀椀攀渀挀攀 氀愀戀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 愀搀瘀愀渀挀攀洀攀渀琀猀 椀渀 洀攀搀椀挀椀渀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 洀椀爀愀挀氀攀 漀昀 漀甀爀 漀眀渀 戀漀搀椀攀猀 愀渀搀 琀栀漀猀攀 漀昀 漀甀爀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀漀眀 挀愀渀 眀攀 渀漀琀 猀攀攀 琀栀攀 栀愀渀搀 漀昀 䜀漀搀 愀琀 眀漀爀欀㼀ഀഀ

Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, founding director of the National Jewish Outreach Program, in helping people to learn to believe God, uses a similar approach. Just look at history. Look at how many times the Jewish people were enslaved, persecuted, murdered, exiled. Time after time, what looked like utter destruction instead led to a new beginning. Annihilation was averted, not once, not twice, but over and over again throughout the centuries. How can this be explained? Rabbi Buchwald gives us two choices—God is looking out for us, or this has been a series of coincidences; hundreds of times in a row, coincidentally, the Jews have had the talent, or the luck, to escape extinction. Rabbi Buchwald says, if we truly look at our history, how can you not believe in God? Frankly it takes more effort to believe in coincidence. ਍㰀倀㸀䠀漀眀 洀愀渀礀 琀椀洀攀猀 椀渀 漀甀爀 氀椀瘀攀猀 椀猀 䜀漀搀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀攀 樀甀猀琀 昀愀椀氀 琀漀 渀漀琀椀挀攀㼀  䴀愀渀礀 漀昀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀 琀栀攀 猀琀漀爀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 洀愀渀 眀栀漀 氀椀瘀攀猀 愀氀漀渀攀 漀渀 愀渀 椀猀氀愀渀搀⸀  䠀攀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀猀 愀 氀攀琀琀攀爀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 洀愀椀渀氀愀渀搀᐀䜠攀琀 漀昀昀 琀栀攀 椀猀氀愀渀搀Ⰰ 愀 瘀椀漀氀攀渀琀 猀琀漀爀洀 椀猀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀椀渀最⸀  吀栀攀 洀愀渀 猀愀礀猀 琀漀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀㨀 䤀昀 䜀漀搀 眀愀渀琀猀 洀攀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀 椀猀氀愀渀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 䜀漀搀 眀椀氀氀 琀攀氀氀 洀攀⸀  伀琀栀攀爀眀椀猀攀Ⰰ 䤀ᤀ洠 猀琀愀礀椀渀最 爀椀最栀琀 栀攀爀攀⸀ഀഀ

The rain begins to pour, the water level is rising. A boat appears, and a voice calls from the boat: Get off the island, climb aboard the boat, there’s going to be a flood. The man replies: If God wants me to get off the island, God will tell me. ਍㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 椀猀 甀瀀 琀漀 琀栀攀 洀愀渀ᤀ猠 渀攀挀欀⸀  䄀 栀攀氀椀挀漀瀀琀攀爀 愀瀀瀀攀愀爀猀 漀瘀攀爀栀攀愀搀⸀  䄀 爀漀瀀攀 氀愀搀搀攀爀 椀猀 氀漀眀攀爀攀搀⸀  䄀 瘀漀椀挀攀 挀爀椀攀猀 漀甀琀㨀 䌀氀椀洀戀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 氀愀搀搀攀爀Ⰰ 挀漀洀攀 愀戀漀愀爀搀 琀栀攀 栀攀氀椀挀漀瀀琀攀爀Ⰰ 椀琀ᤀ猠 礀漀甀爀 氀愀猀琀 挀栀愀渀挀攀⸀  吀栀攀 洀愀渀 爀攀瀀氀椀攀猀㨀 漀渀氀礀 䜀漀搀 挀愀渀 琀攀氀氀 洀攀 眀栀攀渀 椀琀ᤀ猠 琀椀洀攀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀⸀ഀഀ

The man drowns. He dies and comes face to face with God. The man begins to cry out: Why didn’t you save me from drowning? ਍㰀倀㸀䜀漀搀 爀攀瀀氀椀攀猀᐀䤠 猀攀渀琀 礀漀甀 愀 氀攀琀琀攀爀Ⰰ 䤀 猀攀渀琀 礀漀甀 愀 戀漀愀琀Ⰰ 䤀 猀攀渀琀 礀漀甀 愀 栀攀氀椀挀漀瀀琀攀爀⸀  圀栀愀琀 洀漀爀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 搀漀渀攀㼀ഀഀ

Therefore, it is in wisdom that our rabbis help us see God’s hand when others only see human success. So on Chanukah, and also Yom HaAtzmaut, we rise to say Hallel. Human fought victories, to bring freedom and independence to the Jews of Israel, are indeed marked by gratitude to God. ਍㰀倀㸀伀渀 愀 洀漀爀攀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀愀氀 氀攀瘀攀氀Ⰰ 洀礀 猀甀搀搀攀渀 椀渀挀愀瀀愀挀椀琀礀 琀栀爀攀攀 洀漀渀琀栀猀 愀最漀 栀攀氀瀀攀搀 漀瀀攀渀 洀礀 攀礀攀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀 漀昀 䜀漀搀⸀  䤀 愀洀 栀甀洀戀氀攀搀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 洀愀渀礀 漀昀 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 氀攀愀爀渀攀搀 琀栀攀猀攀 氀攀猀猀漀渀猀 甀渀搀攀爀 洀甀挀栀 洀漀爀攀 挀栀愀氀氀攀渀最椀渀最 挀椀爀挀甀洀猀琀愀渀挀攀猀 琀栀愀渀 䤀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 渀漀渀攀琀栀攀氀攀猀猀Ⰰ 氀攀琀 洀攀 琀攀氀氀 礀漀甀 愀戀漀甀琀 洀礀 漀眀渀 猀攀氀昀 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀礀 搀甀爀椀渀最 琀椀洀攀猀 漀昀 瀀愀椀渀Ⰰ 愀搀樀甀猀琀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀攀 琀攀洀瀀漀爀愀爀礀 氀漀猀猀 漀昀 洀漀戀椀氀椀琀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 甀氀琀椀洀愀琀攀氀礀 昀椀渀搀椀渀最 洀礀 眀愀礀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 栀攀愀氀椀渀最⸀ഀഀ

A few weeks ago at physical therapy, I watched as a young girl, a high school student, who must have had knee surgery, was being asked by the therapist to walk for the first time since her surgery, with only one crutch instead of two. I could see on the young woman’s face the look of despair and hopelessness as she desperately tried to get a reluctant leg to move. ਍㰀倀㸀䴀礀 漀眀渀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀 挀愀洀攀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 洀攀⸀  䤀琀 眀愀猀渀ᤀ琠 猀漀 氀漀渀最 愀最漀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 眀愀猀 琀漀氀搀Ⰰ ᰀ吠爀礀 眀愀氀欀椀渀最Ⰰᴀ†愀渀搀 䤀 琀爀甀氀礀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀 挀爀愀稀礀 椀搀攀愀⸀  䤀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 搀漀 椀琀⸀ഀഀ

Shortly after my surgery, I spoke with a young man I know who had the same injury as me—ruptured Achilles tendon—three months prior to mine. He told me he was about to resume jogging. I remember thinking how unbelievable that sounded. ਍㰀倀㸀䠀攀爀攀 䤀 愀洀 洀礀猀攀氀昀Ⰰ 琀栀爀攀攀 洀漀渀琀栀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀 愀昀琀攀爀 猀甀爀最攀爀礀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 焀甀椀琀攀 爀攀愀搀礀 琀漀 樀漀最Ⰰ 戀甀琀 昀愀爀 戀攀礀漀渀搀 眀栀攀爀攀 䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 愀琀 琀栀椀猀 琀椀洀攀⸀  䜀漀搀 攀砀椀猀琀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀愀椀渀Ⰰ 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀愀猀琀攀爀昀甀氀 琀攀挀栀渀椀焀甀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 搀漀挀琀漀爀 眀栀漀 欀渀漀眀猀 栀漀眀 琀漀 搀漀 琀栀攀 猀甀爀最攀爀礀⸀  䤀渀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 眀椀猀搀漀洀Ⰰ 漀甀爀 戀漀搀椀攀猀 愀爀攀 挀爀攀愀琀攀搀 椀渀 愀 眀愀礀 琀栀愀琀 猀漀 漀昀琀攀渀Ⰰ 眀攀 洀椀爀愀挀甀氀漀甀猀氀礀 爀攀挀漀瘀攀爀 昀爀漀洀 椀渀樀甀爀礀 愀渀搀 猀甀爀最攀爀礀⸀ഀഀ

I found God in the patience I needed to endure, and in the hope that it would get better. ਍㰀倀㸀䈀甀琀 昀漀爀 琀栀漀猀攀 眀栀漀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 最攀琀 戀攀琀琀攀爀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 氀椀瘀攀 眀椀琀栀 瀀愀椀渀 愀渀搀 椀氀氀渀攀猀猀Ⰰ 䜀漀搀 愀氀猀漀 椀猀 琀栀攀椀爀 猀漀甀爀挀攀 漀昀 椀渀渀攀爀 猀琀爀攀渀最琀栀Ⰰ ഀഀ to put up the best fight they have, to not be defeated. ਍㰀倀㸀䤀 爀攀愀搀 愀 瀀愀椀渀昀甀氀 猀琀漀爀礀 爀攀挀攀渀琀氀礀 漀昀 愀 戀愀戀礀 戀漀爀渀 眀椀琀栀 愀 爀愀爀攀 昀漀爀洀 漀昀 戀氀椀渀搀渀攀猀猀⸀  䠀攀 眀椀氀氀 渀攀瘀攀爀 猀攀攀⸀  ഀഀ His parents reaction began with confusion and despair. But ultimately, they returned to loving their child, ਍愀瀀瀀爀攀挀椀愀琀椀渀最 栀漀眀 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀 栀攀 椀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 洀漀猀琀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 氀攀愀爀渀椀渀最 琀漀 瀀愀琀椀攀渀琀氀礀 愀氀氀漀眀 琀栀攀椀爀 猀漀渀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 栀漀眀 琀漀 ഀഀ cope with blindness at his own pace. The child finds his way around the house and the world, and is a ਍挀漀渀猀琀愀渀琀 猀漀甀爀挀攀 漀昀 樀漀礀 愀渀搀 爀攀洀椀渀搀攀爀 漀昀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 戀氀攀猀猀椀渀最⸀ഀഀ

One more way we find the elusive God is found in a strange story concerning Abraham. Genesis 18 begins, “Then the Lord appeared to Abraham.” But in the next verse, Abraham sees only men, not God. He welcomes the strangers into his home, to be his guests. We might only see people, but when we reach out to help, we are recognizing the presence of God. ਍㰀倀㸀夀攀猀Ⰰ 眀攀 挀愀渀 昀椀渀搀 䜀漀搀 椀渀 渀愀琀甀爀攀Ⰰ 椀渀 栀椀猀琀漀爀礀Ⰰ 椀渀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀攀猀 漀昀 琀栀漀猀攀 眀攀 氀漀瘀攀Ⰰ 椀渀 漀甀爀 椀渀渀攀爀 猀琀爀攀渀最琀栀 琀栀愀琀 眀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 眀攀 栀愀搀⸀  䈀甀琀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 琀栀攀 椀洀愀最攀 漀昀 䜀漀搀 眀攀愀爀椀渀最 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀⸀  䤀琀 椀猀 渀漀琀 漀渀氀礀 眀攀 眀栀漀 猀攀攀欀 䜀漀搀㬀 䜀漀搀 愀氀猀漀 猀攀攀欀猀 甀猀⸀ഀഀ

A burglar, attempting to rob a home, hears a voice: God is watching you. God is watching you. The burglar then realizes that the voice is that of a parrot. He asks the parrot, “What is your name?” The parrot replies, “Saint Peter.” The burglar than asks, “What kind of a person would name a parrot Saint Peter?” The parrot replies: “The same person who names his Rottweiler, God!” ਍㰀倀㸀䜀漀搀Ⰰ 搀漀渀渀攀搀 椀渀 琀攀昀椀氀氀椀渀Ⰰ 猀攀攀欀猀 漀甀琀 琀栀攀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 漀昀 䤀猀爀愀攀氀Ⰰ 甀渀椀焀甀攀 愀洀漀渀最 琀栀攀 渀愀琀椀漀渀猀⸀  吀漀 氀椀瘀攀 甀瀀 琀漀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 栀椀最栀 攀砀瀀攀挀琀愀琀椀漀渀猀 洀攀愀渀猀 琀漀 戀攀 愀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀栀漀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 椀渀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 瀀爀攀猀攀渀挀攀Ⰰ 攀瘀攀渀 眀栀攀渀 椀琀 椀猀 愀 挀栀愀氀氀攀渀最攀 琀漀 搀漀 猀漀Ⰰ 爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀椀渀最 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 爀漀氀攀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 愀氀氀 漀甀爀 琀爀椀甀洀瀀栀猀Ⰰ 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 挀漀洀昀漀爀琀椀渀最 栀愀渀搀 搀甀爀椀渀最 漀甀爀 栀漀甀爀 漀昀 搀攀猀瀀愀椀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䜀漀搀ᤀ猠 栀漀氀礀 椀洀愀最攀 搀攀攀瀀 眀椀琀栀椀渀 漀甀爀猀攀氀瘀攀猀 愀渀搀 眀椀琀栀椀渀 琀栀攀 猀瀀椀爀椀琀 漀昀 攀愀挀栀 漀昀 漀甀爀 昀攀氀氀漀眀 栀甀洀愀渀 戀攀椀渀最猀⸀ഀഀ ਍ഀഀ ਍㰀⼀栀琀洀氀㸀਀