Thanksgiving??????

My heart is a prisoner in Gaza.

 07/10/23.    

BRING THEM HOME. NOW

My computer reminds me today is Thanksgiving.  My favorite holiday in America now all but forgotten - no celebrations here, there never were of course. It is a uniquely American celebration.  But today, of all days? The day 50 hostages, mothers and children, were supposed to have been returned.  I am not sure whether I wrote this in any previous post, but I will only believe IN their return if and when it actually happens, and we see it happening. This is beyond cruel, in a series of ongoing cruelty and torture that began on October 7th. 

So, to all of you whom I hold dear in America, enjoy your families, treasure your children, and your parents.  Be thankful for warmth and love and nourishment. Be thankful for the food and the blessings in your life. 

And let us hope and pray they are never taken away.

What next?

 I have not written for over a week. I have been asked (genteelly) for a new entry.  I struggle to put words down - everything just keeps getting steadily worse. The agony of not knowing about the hostages continues.  Their families and supporters have marched to Jerusalem, only to be met by a stony silence, little offers of hope - glimmers that fade almost as soon as they begin. I think I have found a term for this time, or present constant state of being - it is existential agony. Some days I have energy to engage with others, o rin different activities, and some days I don't. Some days I want to talk to people, other days I don't. I am trying to be more accepting of myself in this state of existential agony.  This is an extremely dark time for humanity.

It Just Gets Worse

How difficult it is to describe the ongoing grind of war.   It is difficult to bear the constant assault of those protesting against Israel all over the world.  These protests and cries against us are almost as frequent as the barrage of missiles sent our way. Apparently these are no longer mentioned in newspapers overseas.  The displacement of over 200,000 people in Israel - the deserted farms, cities, and settlements in the north and the south. The uncertainty of what is going to happen, combined with the uncertainty of what is happening. The horror of the captives - where are they? are they alive? Who is feeding the young children, the nursing babies, the sick and the elderly? Who is holding them? and comforting them? Are women and men separated? Do they have any idea of where they are? Can they sleep? Do they know a nation is praying for them? weeping for them? Do they know that we have not abandoned them? Not even for one second? 

Do they know how horrified we are by the words and deeds of those in our government?  Who can understand a people that have been abandoned by those who are supposed to be looking after us?

BUT, the indomitable spirit of the people of this country - civilians, soldiers, teenagers, elderly - everyone coming together, to feed, to clothe, to comfort, to house the displaced, to cry together, to help together, this is what sustains us, but it is so very very hard.