Celebrating resilience

Two weeks ago I asked if I could have dinner with people who lost their homes or businesses to the LA wildfires. The community answers and it’s changing my life.

On Friday, Avi Cunin (the rabbi’s son) invited me to join their massive table for shabbat dinner, where I sat with two Ukrainian refugees, an Iranian Jew, and a South African family.

I heard ancient Jewish stories about finding joy in the hardest times.

The only time Moses wanted to quit was when his people complained about the food they were eating. Not when he was struggling with slavery, homelessness or oppression, but when his newly freed people complained about the food.

The lack of gratitude was the worst thing he dealt with. Not the struggle, but his community choosing to see only the negative.

It reminded me of the call to appreciate the conversations we're having around intentional dinner tables. How discussing resilience and gratitude are medicine compared to the noise that drones in our minds and feeds.

I'm grateful to have two more small dinners this week.

If you could use some community and are willing to host (or know someone who might be), message me.

Let's keep this spark alive.