#BlogElul 28: "give"

For Elul 28:

Give - grateful for the chance to share

#BlogElul 27: "intend"

For Elul 27 (yesterday!):

Intend - We all sometimes lose our day

#BlogElul 26: "hope"

So Little Jazz and I were watching StarWars: The Clone Wars (animated) late last nite...and then today we were dancing to Harry Belafonte's Man Smart (Woman Smarter), having a grand ol' time...Jewish tradition, George Lucas, and many more have it right - there's always great hope for the next generation...

For Elul 26:

Hope - the future has to be better

#BlogElul 25: "begin"

The college football season begins this weekend. And here in South Bend, that means Notre Dame. This community seems to be focused on opening weekend all year: looking forward to it, or back upon it. In some ways, ND football dominates life around town, especially on home game weeks: hotels and restaurants are overbooked, retail shopping spikes, the traffic becomes heavier and frustrating. I've heard estimates that an additional 100,000+ people descend on the area *each* home weekend. 
And we also know that every game is a vital opportunity, beyond the outcome of the game. The local economy benefits, there's an enthusiastic buzz in the air, people are genuinely more interested in those around them.
With the conclusion of Elul in a few days, we are coming toward the beginning of yet a different new season. Like fall football, the holy days will bring its own set of pageantry and excitement. Maybe not shiny new helmets, end zone dances and hopes to make a bowl game - yet Rosh HaShanah will certainly kick off a time of hopes for the future, long overdue chances to greet and embrace loved ones and friends, and surely even show off a nice outfit or two along the way. 
The possibilities of such renewed beginnings are not reserved just for *big* times like the Yamim Nora'im or the opening of a sports season. We can bring this buzz into the new experiences we find each and every day.

For Elul 25:

Begin: Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. 

#BlogElul 24: "end"

What are the true edges, peripheries, points of demarcation in life? Where does one week “end” and another “begin?” (aah, the flux time of Shabbat). Where does one opportunity trail off, yet another emerge? Where’s “the end of the earth?”

For Elul 24:

End – limited only by what we see

#BlogElul 23: "love"

All you need is love...
Love, love me do...
All my lovin' I will give to you...
My love does it good...
And I love her...
And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make...
I gave my love a chicken that had no bones :)

So much to say, so much to sing...

For Elul 23:

Love - Don't be afraid to share it...

#BlogElul 22: "dare"

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, and Dr. King's famous "I have a dream" speech. Engaging, inspiring, even transfixing - these word remain a powerful reminder of the efforts that have been made to make our society a more just one, and of the work still ahead to bring such dreams to life. Yesterday, today, tomorrow - there will be visionaries to guide us.

For Elul 22:

Dare - There are those who dream big