Some accidentally was dropped out so posting this again.
I’m in silence this week with our retreat, often sitting by this glorious lakeshore scenery.
One of my earliest experiences with spirit, age 4 or 5, was sitting in services at our reform synagogue. Most of the service content slipped past me but I always loved this prayer, and it will be in my heart this week, for our whole world.
Grant us peace, Thy most precious gift, O Thou eternal source of peace. Bless our country that it may ever be a stronghold of peace and its advocate in the council of nations. May contentment reign within its borders, health, and happiness in its homes. Strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship between all the inhabitants of our land (and every land) . Plant virtue in every soul and may love of Thy name hallow every home and every heart.
I’m offering you my personal reflection: What does peace mean? What can I do through body and speech, through energy and thought, to enhance peace in the world?
For decades, making sculpture was a place where I found deep peace. The first large outdoor sculptures I ever made were these two 7’ bronze, electrified menorahs, commissioned in 1966 by that same childhood synagogue. They hung on either side of the massive double front doors. My 23-year-old self was moved by their trust in me! When that (very old) synagogue merged with another, they were moved and hang today on this wall near the entrance. I designed and created/welded them and did all the wiring! I still find them beautiful. This was the true start of my professional sculpture career after college, the first of many outdoor commissions.
This relief on the Hillel Building in Ann Arbor, is my final large outdoor piece, 1989.
They are up to 9’, stylized Hebrew letters spelling Hillel. Interestingly, these two, first and last, are my only large outdoor commissions on synagogues. My favorite large outdoor piece I have made is a welded steel flying heron, with over 7-foot wingspan, in the courtyard of the Toledo University Medical Center. I’ll be watching the herons this week!