Fifty five years ago on the sixteenth day of the month of Heshvan in the year 5715 my soul left heaven and entered the human earthly body I now inhabit. I was the first of four daughters born to Larry and Linnie Sanderson in Littlefield Texas.
On that day my soul's mission on earth began.
The Torah Parsha for my birthday is Vayeira, which is found in Genesis 18: 1 through Genesis 22: 24. I can't believe I am 55 years old and have never looked up my birthday Parsha. When I realized today that the Parsha we read last Shabbat is my birthday Parsha I was completely blown away.
The themes of this section of Torah are: hospitality, G-d's faithfulness in keeping promises, things that seem impossible in our thinking not being impossible at all when one trust's G-d, and tests that G-d sends our way.
It really IS MY PARSHA!! Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee..." Psalm 139: 3 says, "Thou ...art acquainted with all my ways."
Hospitality comes so naturally to me. If I am not working on a party, planning and preparing for house guests, or looking for the next event I am just not happy. Planning, doing, inviting, and having people come to my home is my true joy in life! Now I know why.
And I have seen G-d's faithfulness throughout my life in many situations that seemed hopeless to me. I have had my share of tests, and must sadly confess that I have not always passed them with flying colors. Yet, here I am. Still living and breathing after 55 years of not always getting it right. Not even close so many times.
I have been thinking a lot lately about getting older. I'm not old yet, but am certainly middle aged. I sometimes forget about how old I really am until I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. It's funny how I don't feel any different than I did when I was 15, 25, 35, or 45.
Yes, I am a little slower, have more aches and pains than I did in younger days. But the "Me" inside this body forgets about all that goes with aging until I see myself in that mirror. Oy vey! Who is that peering out of the mirror at me?
It's certainly a reminder that I ain't gettin any younger. Wrinkles. Gray hair. You might know what I mean. And if you don't know yet, you will.
Time. How does it fly by so quickly!?!
I love the song, "Fly Like An Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band (1976)
You can go to this link to hear it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1f7eZ8cHpM
This is going to be my theme song for the upcoming year, B'H.
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free
Oh, Lord, through the revolution
Feed the babies
Who don't have enough to eat
Shoe the children
With no shoes on their feet
House the people
Livin' in the street
Oh, oh, there's a solution
I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free
Fly through the revolution
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Isn't it a great song!!!
I also have some favorite Bible verses that I hope to incorporate into my life in a more real way during my 55th year on earth.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 & 2 - "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die..." and Psalm 90:12 - "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." *time keeps on slippin into the future...
Isaiah 40:31 - "...they that wait upon the L-RD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." *I want to fly like an eagle
Leviticus 19:9-10 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the L-RD your G-d. *feed the babies, shoe the children, and house the homeless
There's no time like the present to make changes in my life that will allow me to be a better human. I've already been here for more than 50 years, and no one knows how long they have to accomplish their soul's mission.
Psalm 90:10 tells us, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
So, if I merit to live on this earth for 80 years, I still have some time to try and make the world a better place by my being here.
Ad me’a v’esrim - “May you live for 120 years” is a traditional Jewish birthday greeting. The idea behind the greeting is simple: Moses lived for 120 years. Maybe I will, too.
I sincerely hope to become a better person. More generous. More kind and patient. Less stressed, and more trusting.
I had hoped to invite people to spend the day with me, but since I have been taking an "eye" test for three weeks now, I won't be able to do that this year. But hopefully we can spend some time together soon.
