Thursday, September 21, 2017
Hineni - Here Am I
I was so moved by this during the mountain Rosh Hashanah service that I decided to take a photo of it so I could read it again. Wow...it says so much of what I think about....
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Debbie Friedman's Shanah Tovah: A Good Year
I was trying to find-remember a good Rosh Hashanah song and remembered this one. This is a fun Rosh Hashanah song! When my kids were little we'd sing it in the car on our way to the mountains. It's still a family favorite.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Do Former Cult Members Try to Hold Onto Friendships They Made "There"?
Every time I see movies about religious cults, I relate. You see, although JFJ was not supposed to be a cult because its doctrine was not "off," it functioned like one. At least it functioned like a cult in the days I was there.
When I was part of that organization, I learned to obey and follow and found myself dependent on the leaders. I was "encouraged" to only associate with JFJ family and as time passed, I needed the people in the group. We even wore bright t-shirts that said who we were and we spent time on the streets passing out brochures pretending to not be ashamed. I was miserable doing that because I did not believe in the "cause," but I also didn't want to lose the people that I thought had become my "family."
It did take sometime to learn to function again on my own after I left JFJ.
That was a long, long time ago.
As time passed, I forgot, but in recent years, I remember some of the people I knew who were part of that organization. And... because of social media and the internet, I am connected to some of the people that I once knew from those intense days.
Some of those people I know are really my friends and I've so grateful that we are connected.
A certain person from "those days" and I reconnected seven years ago. As time has passed, she and I built up a friendship and I confided in her. She has become a very close friend and I continue to want to hold on to her friendship. But....last week, she asked me "Why."
"Jo Ann, why are you associating with me and others if you don't want to believe as I do? It is deceptive."
Her statement got me thinking. Am I being deceptive?
I don't mean to be.
It is just that I love people and want to give myself to those who I care about.
If I was a young person trying to exit a dangerous cult, I'd probably have cut myself off from all the people that are part of JFJ or associated with it, but I just don't want to. Also, the organization may have changed and may not be as cult like as I remember.
Is is common for former cult members to try to hold onto friendships they made "there" or is it just me?
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Words of Wisdom From Dr. Ellen - My Religion Is Kindness
I love the daily affirmations from my friend Dr. Ellen Albertson. This one fits the way I try to live my life!
"Being kind is easy. Yet doing a kind act creates a powerful, reliable increase in wellbeing.
Don't take my word for it, experiment with kindness today. Find one completely unexpected kind thing to do and just do it. Notice how your mood shifts.
It can be as simple as letting the person in the grocery check outline go ahead of you or buying a cup of coffee for the stranger behind you.
Spread the love." - Dr. Ellen Albertson
Saturday, September 16, 2017
12 Years Ago Today - There Can Be Miracles When You Believe
People of all faiths prayed for the Schneider-Farris family and after being in a coma and near death, Dan miraculously survived.
Two weeks after Dan's accident I was celebrating Rosh Hashanah in the Colorado mountains and all I thought about was the new beginning that G-d had granted to our family.
Yes, "there can be miracles when you believe!"
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| Dan - A day after his accident 9-17-05 |
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| Rosh Hashanah in the Mountains 2005 |
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| Rosh Hashanah 2005 Annabelle, Joel, Rebekah, Jo Ann, and our friends Sam and Hellene Anderson |
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| JO ANN - Rosh Hashnanah 2005 |
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| Annabelle- Rosh Hashanah 2005 |
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