MountainMornings

We did it. We drove ten hours to Nashville with a trunk full of toys for eight nights of Hannuka. The magic starts tomorrow night, Jews everywhere will light the first candle to commemorate an oil lamp that mysteriously made one day’s worth of oil last more than a week. 

But really it’s all about freedom and the Maccabees, that small tribe that triumphed over evil. They were a Jewish rebel army that took over Judea from the Seleucid Empire way back before Jesus walked the earth. Go see the new Star Wars Rogue One and you’ll get an idea of what they were up against. 

Today the Love Bug’s preschool held a Shabbat/Hannuka service. We danced. We sang. We even watched an amazing juggler! Afterwards, the children had latkes.

Bob and I listened to This American Life’s podcast about reconciliation in the car. It made me think about our divided nation. It made me want to take a Republican to lunch. And whether you’ll be celebrating Christmas Eve or Hannuka tomorrow, we are all one people. 

Americans are all colors and rainbow colors. Our hearts all want the same thing for our families. To be free from hunger. To be safe and secure. To give our children the finest education we can; which bathroom they get to use is a distraction. 

And even when we’re the tallest candle in the menorah, we need to feel like we belong to each other. 

Have the happiest of holidays. I wish you my dear readers love and peace this season.