In Six Days......

Written on Sabbath 2/15/14
9 am

Today's torah portion (Ki Tissa) includes these verses in Exodus 31:12-18

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations: that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him on Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

I'm feeling very much alone in my convictions these days. I don't have anyone in my circle of friends/family who regularly communicate with me who believes in Six Day Creationism and proves it by keeping the Sabbath day holy. It is troubling to learn that my grandchildren have been swayed to the Evolution camp. It is troubling that my friend who now calls himself a brother still does not believe in Six Day, Young Earth Creationism, but believes in a novel interpretation of Genesis 1 expounded by John Walton and others. He also has not found it possible in his life situation to keep Shabbat. It is troubling that ffoz gives him cover for trampling the Sabbath with its "Optional for Gentiles" Sabbath stance. Sometimes I feel like forsaking facebook altogether; it is such a grief. It has become easy to eschew it on Shabbat. I don't miss it at all; a welcome respite.

I have been listening to Yair Davidiy via youtube lately concerning the Lost Tribes. I heard of him years ago through Chris Josephson (Bible Light) and wanted to read The Tribes, but it was out of print at the time. My interest in this topic is renewed, so I may read this book and study the topic more in depth. I also heard this week about a legendary river called Sambatiyon that is rather fascinating. Both Yair Davidiy and a Rabbi named Eliyahu Kin talked about it from different perspectives on their youtube channels. I have been convinced for many years that I am an Israelite, and consider myself Jewish in my affiliation. It is a lonely journey for this "ugly duckling", and I have yet to land in a welcoming Hebraic "swan pond."

I have become interested in bird watching lately. We filled our feeders and attracted chickadees, sparrows, red headed woodpeckers, blue jays, cardinals, tufted titmouse (titmice?) so far. The goldfinches have not yet returned to the niger seed feeder at my kitchen window.

Last Sunday I drove to Potato Creek State Park and traversed Trail 4 on my snowshoes. It was very quiet and serene in the woods. I was not cold unless I stopped moving. I wore snow pants so I did not get snow in my boots. The trail had been blazed by others so it was not too taxing. It was a good workout though. It took me an hour and a half to make the two and a half mile circuit. I saw two other snowshoers and encountered one young male hiker in boots who said hello. People on trails are very helpful and friendly in my experience so far. One older snowshoer guy struck up a conversation with me as he rested on a park bench on the trail and gave me some snowshoeing tips. He planned to be out on the trails until sunset, including Vargo Hill. My Trail 4 trek was enough for me. I was tired afterwards. I drove to the Nature Center and may have seen a snowy owl flying low on the trail that leads to the mountain bike trail. Snowy Owls have been spotted all over northern Indiana and Michigan this winter. Do they think this is the Arctic? I can understand their confusion. The snow depth is at least two feet this year. If it melts too fast we could have flooding. There were a few sledders and snowboarders on the sledding hill, and it looked like people had been on Trail 1 with cross country skis near the Nature Center (which was closed). I may try cross country skiing next year.

I only had one "down day" this week. Tuesday I had to go home early from work and sleep the rest of the day. I have not taken what I consider "toxic medicine" (Tylenol, etc.) for at least a year now. If I'm sick all I can do is take colloidal silver and sleep. Epsom (magnesium) baths once a week are helpful, along with B complex vitamins, occasional half Iodoral tabs, daily Sea Aloe in my breakfast juice, and the best remedy, exercise. This severe winter weather has impacted my fitness activities quite a bit. Rowing Class has been suspended due to the frigid mornings, and I haven't been running with the group since the class moved to Tuesdays this month. Nobody seems interested in winter hiking in this weather, so yesterday I walked to the horse barn and visited each horse individually in their stalls and picked out a few favorites. I think Jonkers and Thomas are my favorite Friesians. Buster and Frosty are two thoroughbred types I would consider riding. I did not see my old pal Jackson. I wonder if he is out to pasture or gone altogether. I wonder if I will ever actually ride a nice Thoroughbred or Friesian at Culver. I need to be ready for the opportunity if it comes. I need to work with my own horses, get Martha trained, get someone to help me (Culver instructor that is small?), ride Misty regularly, get the barn and tack in some semblance of good order for visitors, and get myself fit. I need more stamina. I only have so much energy, and when it is gone I am done for the day.

The sun is shining this Sabbath morning. I saw the beautiful full silvery moon in the western sky before sunrise. Time for breakfast and turning out the horses in the woods. Later I'll walk the dog in the woods on my snowshoes and hopefully this afternoon Pat and I will go for a Sabbath day's journey to the Nature Center at Potato Creek State Park and check out the birds at the feeders and in the park. I bought the annual pass last Sunday. Maybe Pat and I could enjoy bird watching as a hobby together. Maybe he could do some nature photography while I hike the trails. It would be nice if we could find a common interest. Maybe we'll go late in the afternoon and see the sunset! Nice way to close out the Sabbath.


Update - Sunday morning 2/16.....

Well, Sabbath afternoon did not go as planned. "Sudden Sick Syndrome" came upon me and I slept most of the day. It is very frustrating not to know why this happens or when it will happen. I feel fine one minute and "sick" the next. I cannot figure out what triggers it. It seems as if my body has to detox from time to time. I'm going to try abstaining from all foods that might possibly be toxic to me for one week and see what happens. There was nothing I ate yesterday that should have affected me. I'll keep a food diary.

Overnight I listened to Rabbi Eliyahu Kin's youtube teachings on Evolution and Creation. It was good to hear a Jewish perspective similar to mine.

I stayed off of facebook yesterday and did not miss it at all. Even after Sabbath ended I chose not to go there. I finally checked it out after midnight when I woke up. Denise posted about hiking in San Antonio. Good for her!