Chewing Glass

Like Arthur Dent, I enjoy a cup of tea during the day. Unlike Arthur Dent, I’m not that fussy about it. The reason may be that a) I’m not British, and b) I’m not marooned in space. [At least, I don’t think I am.] Or, it could be that I’m American and let’s face it, as a culture, we rarely take the time to pay attention to much of anything.

Hey Kid! Just whip up that Oprah Chai Tea Latte for me, pronto! I’m late for a meeting!

Well, no. Not me. I’m not going to be late for anything. I’m a writer after all. But while I was waiting for my tea to steep (that’s a funny word: “steep”) and wondering if I need a new pair of fuzzy slippers—the ears fell off the left bunny and the right one looks like it has mange—I began to reflect on how different cultures deal with the more mundane aspects of life…like tea.

Continue reading “My Cup o’ Tea”

At sundown today, begins the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, the Day of Atonement.

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.

It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.

And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.

~Leviticus 16:29-34 NIV

Continue reading “Yom Kippur”