From the Cantor - October 1998

One secret to a happy family lies in each member's ability to handle stress without hurting one another. Stress-reducing methods include vigorous exercise, laughter in large doses, and certain action-packed video games. Last Sunday, Mark was picking off cyber-baddies with dispatch in the guise of Duke Nukem . I took a moment to watch the gory proceedings with sincere fascination, and commented on how well (sic) he was doing. Mark confessed, "I'm cheating. I set the game on God-mode."

"God mode?" I queried. "You mean no one can kill you?" "No one," he said. "Not even if you do nothing?" "Not even if," he said. "Then show me," I challenged. Immediately, several thugs who were about to attack paraded across the screen as if greeting each other at a promenade. The player was totally ignored, but safe. So this is God-mode, I thought. Invincible, but no one seeks You out.

When we are forced to take serious steps to secure the physical safety of our Congregation and its building, God may seem remote. Not so. A locked door can't keep God away. A security system can quench spirituality only if we let it. Our most priceless treasures can never be stolen - lifelong study of Torah, voices lifted in prayer, and many hands working to perpetuate kindness. Then we can all share in God-mode as a setting of harmony, not of isolation.

B'shalom u-v'shir,

Cantor Jacqueline L. Shuchat-Marx

Previous Bulletin Page
October 1998 Bulletin Home Page
Next Bulletin Page