Easing the aches and pains
Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh received a B.A. from Skidmore College and was ordained as a Rabbi from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She is fortunate to be involved in so many facets of the community including serving as the chaplain for JF&CS and an instructor for CAJE. This will be her fifth year serving as the visiting Rabbi in Decatur, Ill. She has also served congregations in both Sydney and Perth, Australia. When not writing her weekly BLOGS, she can be found running marathons.
Published March 8, 2013
When is the last time you played a game of cards? Aside from UNO, I rarely touch a deck of cards. I must confess, I have never learned how to play Bridge or Canasta. I understand a simple game of Solitaire and War. Basic does not begin to describe my card playing skills.
So when I found myself with a resident with whom I share a nice relationship, I suggested we play a game of cards. She had told me she wished others around her could participate in some of the games she once enjoyed. She was not in a particularly good mood and it made me sad to see her sinking so low.
I shuffled the cards. Arthritis makes doing once simple tasks like that a challenge. And so we began playing the only games I knew. Soon we were laughing. All other cares were swept away for the time. We were not discussing anything of value, yet, I felt a Divine Presence in the room. As two people connected and laughed, surely God must be felt. For a brief time my friend forgot her aches and struggles. When she wanted to give in and quit, I refused to allow such a thing. I declared that we were playing until the end!
I took a chance. It seemed silly but taking our minds off the daily routine made a difference. Sometimes you just need to stop talking about it and begin. I doubt I will reach much beyond a few simple games, but one never knows, right?
