A pagan went up to a rabbi and said he would convert to Judaism if the rabbi would explain the whole of the Torah to him while he was standing on one leg. The rabbi was incensed and sent the man off immediately. The pagan then went up to Rabbi Hillel with the same proposal, to which the great rabbi said: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow human being. That is the whole Torah. The rest is the commentary. Go and study."
 The Jewish High Holydays, the upcoming Ramadan season and the Christian Eucharist have a lot in common. For the Jews, the season from Rosh Hashanah (sundown tonight) through Yom Kippur (Sept 22) is a time of making amends, reviewing one's life, determining where one needs to grow and setting goals to get there. The lamb of God that they sacrificed in order to achieve at-one-ment with God is the same lamb  the Christians refer to when they say, "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us."

Ramadan, a Muslim time for fasting and prayer starting tomorrow, is derived from the word ramd, meaning "to burn". Since each of these traditions are derived from Abraham, it seems like a good time to give thanks for our common heritage, make amends, determine where we need to grow, and burn away the self-doubts that keep us from our magnitude and the real reason we're here.

I had a facilitator training here this weekend and it was almost miraculous to watch six women find that place where their "deep joy met with the world's deep hunger." And having found it, to design a life where that work would be the source of their sustenance and the focus of their attention. We are here to do the work that excites us and inspires others. As Rumi said, "The eyes are here for seeing, but the soul is here for its own joy."

I am extending my reach into the world by offering longer retreats both here in San Diego and at my lodge on Lake Bonaparte in upstate New York. The announcements for these workshops follow, and I hope to share this joyful work with many of you during the year.

Blessings and love across the miles,