Day 61 – Unveiling

February 8, 2015

(This is part of a 365 project during my 70th year where I write and illustrate a blog on each day's gift.)

In the Jewish religion, when a person is buried, a tombstone is placed months later at the gravesite but it is covered until a year later when a small family group gathers for an unveiling ceremony. This Sunday morning, we gathered at David’s Aunt Alice’s gravesite for the unveiling of her tombstone. Several selections were read from the Jewish prayer book but the following is one that I particularly like:

PRAYER ON VISITING GRAVES (This prayer in addition to any of the Meditations, the Psalms, the El Maleh Rachamim and the Kaddish may be recited.)

WE REMEMBER THEM

At the rising of the sun and at its going down

   We remember them.

At the blowing of the wind and the chill of winter

   We remember them.

At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring

      We remember them.

At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer

   We remember them.

At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn

   We remember them.

At the beginning of the year and when it ends

   We remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a

   part of us, as we remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength

   We remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart

   We remember them.

When we have joy we crave to share

   We remember them.

When we have achievements that are based on theirs

   We remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a

   part of us, as we remember them.

Alice was Jewish and my recently deceased father was Protestant but I think these words work for Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism, atheism or any religion or non-religion. Who could argue the universal feelings expressed here?

In our remembering, we recalled Alice’s mantra. Every time we visited her, she reminded us passionately and with a pointed finger as an exclamation point, “Do it now!” Good advice and one that I follow.

My gift today is remembering.

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> DAY 62 Raconteur
     

You can read my other posts on this project here:

http://bjschupp.blogspot.com/2014/12/365-gifts.html