COVID-19, Day 85

Last week of work before vacation. Huzzah! I'll still go to my Saturday job, though. That's a cakewalk compared to social work, and I get free pastries! I probably should go easy on the pastries though. I already have the gut of a woman who is 5 months pregnant. Just kidding!

I bought my tickets to the monastery, I confirmed my itinerary with the Reverend Father, and it is all settled. It is going to be great to get away for a few days, to be in the middle on nowhere and commune with the Lord in contemplation and reflection. In actuality, I knew about this place for over 10 years, but this is my first time going. It was my plan that, if I were not married by 40, I would settle all debts and join a Lutheran monastery. Well, that didn't happen, but the principles of a monk have not really departed from me. In fact, I consider myself sort of an independent friar. Both monks and friars take similar vows, but friars do not separate themselves from society. Instead, they serve society whilst living simply, submitting to spiritual authorities, and leading chaste lives. 

Off the subject, have you ever heard of the Yiddish composer, Mordechaj Gebirtig? He was known for being the bard of Jewish Krakow, writing songs about his experiences in Krakow throughout his life. I once wrote a folksong using the tune from his song "Kinderyor'n." Those who read and listen to my work may remember the song "Childhood Memories." When I saw pictures and video footage of buildings burning in the riots, including the burning of the Wendy's in Atlanta, I thought of one song: "S'brent."


This song was written after the pogrom in Przytyk, Poland, in 1936. In this song, the singer laments because their town is burning, and the men just stand and watch as the town burns. The singer demands that they stop standing around and put out the fire. A legitimate demand, if I say so myself. When the riots were going on, what have we done? Have we stood there and watched, or did we try to douse the flames? Our cities are still burning, and what are we doing? Are we going to stand there shrugging our shoulders, or are we going to get busy? What about America? What will we do when she is burning? Our politicians add kerosene. The media adds kindling. Too many "social action" groups just play the fiddle. It is up to us to get up and put out these ravenous flames! Will you help save America, or will you stand there and watch her burn?

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