Yesterday was quite a day!
First of all, it was Tuesday and we woke up to snow again!!
Then I (Michelle) drove Yoni to work and went to yoga. I've been to this class many times (twice a week since we moved here). Yet after class yesterday, someone approached me and asked, "Are you Jewish?" After I responded in the affirmative, I was informed of a Chanukah party this weekend that a number of Jewish couples are attending. Not only did I meet another Jewish couple, but in less than a week Yoni and I will be at a party with multiple Jewish couples all living in Enid.
I told Yoni the good news, and the day progressed...
In the afternoon, Yoni had an appointment at the clinic for some of his intake exams. First, he went to the dentist. The dentist, upon seeing his kippah asked, "You're Jewish?? Do you know about the Chanukkah party this Sunday?? My fiance and I are going!"
After four weeks of thinking we're the only young Jewish couple in all of Enid, we met two more - in one day!
So what's this mean? Why did we meet them now? Why did this not happen at the first yoga class I attended, or Yoni's first visit to the clinic?
Well the answer came last night, as I was learning Sichos Mussar over the phone with my friend Chanie.
Mussar is the teaching of character refinement. How to attain a pure, optimistic and healthy morale and approach to life.
One of the topics we learned this week had to do with appreciating what you're given today, without a fear of what tomorrow will bring. The teaching states that a man is a fool who acquires a loaf of bread today and cries that maybe tomorrow he will not be as fortunate. A man of faith trusts that G-d will provide for his needs today, tomorrow, and all days of his life. This man does not waste a moment in fear of deprivation.
G-d purposefully provides enough for just today, so that we constantly feel the need to reach out and trust in Him. The best Biblical example of this is the Jews in the desert, after the Exodus. Each day, manna fell from the sky. Every day, just enough bread fell to feed the Jewish people for one day (except for Friday, on which they got two day's worth, to prevent collecting the manna on Shabbat). Why didn't G-d give them enough manna for a year, so that they would not have to worry that it would fall each day? Because G-d wanted them to have faith in Him.
So what's this all have to do with us meeting two couples yesterday on base?
We arrived on base a month ago facing "tomorrow"s as completely uknown entities. We moved from Pikesville, MD - in an apartment building consisting of ONLY young Jewish couples to an Air Force base in a small town saturated with Christianity. We questioned how we could attain a comfort level with our own spirituality and practice of Judaism in this environment, and have prayed every day for strength to face this new challenge as a Kiddush Hashem.
If on that first day, we had been shown a straight, direct path to comfort in this new home, there would not have been as much of a need for us to look inward and Upward for guidance. It's the experience of the journey, and discovering bit by bit, day by day which facilitates strong faith, and a close connection with G-d.
We hope to look at the absence of constant Jewish influence not as a barrier to spiritual growth, but instead as a means to appreciate each little thing to a greater extent.
I was so excited about this experience and the connection to my learning, that I had to share.
On another note, we are getting quite excited for all of the visitors over the next few weeks!!
Before the new year, we get to see all of our parents, Shuki, Cyrel, and the kids!! Yay :)
