December 01st, 2020

What the world needs now is LOVE....  With so much fear spreading across communities in this country, we are so self centered.  Consumed by our own issues of masks vs. no masks, how we are going to earn money, parent our kids, get them appropriate schooling, when will we be able to go back to the gym, or go out for dinner, and when will we get "our lives back". And nowhere in the conversation, is how is my neighbor right now? How are the people in developing nations handling this? What so many are missing, is that we are not here, on earth, for "our own lives". We are here to love and serve others. And as we are waking up as a planet, we are suffering.  It's par for the course. I have found it to be somewhat true, through my own life journey's experience, what has been said that "pain is the touchstone to all spiritual growth." I say this is only somewhat true. In my actual experience, pain was not a very effective motivator at all. It turns out, while I'm an extremely sensitive man, that I have a tremendous tolerance for pain. What it took wasn't pain. It took agony. Being smashed down onto my knees in the shower, and praying on my hands and knees into the drain for G-d to help me get through whatever was happening to me, or around me. So, on the other side of many waves of agony, I have always found one thing. Relief. And after relief, I sensed the waves of love of my Creator carrying me.  Over years, I have learned not to fight and struggle as much when I have an experience that produces fear and agony. I counsel others "don't swim in against a rip current." Do a back float. Tread water. And when the timing is right, ride the wave of Love. It's ironic, that I actually don't surf. I've gone out a few times, but fascinatingly, I've never caught the bug. I get cold easily and have an aversion to the cold Pacific water temperature, as well as the tactile sensation of a wetsuit against my skin sometimes. I prefer to duck under the waves when I'm out there, and/or be on a sailboat riding atop the water, instead of being in it. But surfing aside, what I'm getting at is that  We need love. Right now. We all need love.  Self love. Love, in the form of compassion and empathy for those who are suffering. Love, in the form of forgiveness, for those at whom we are angry. Love, in the form of tolerance, for those with whom we disagree politically. Those who are losing loved ones, and those who are just so scared and traumatized or isolated and along right now need our love in the form of quality time, acts of service, or charitable gifts... So, during the early days of the pandemic, I decided to launch a new passion project that is based on this realization and allows others to show love in a variety of ways. It's called Waves of Love International (WOLI) and it features, the most amazing photographic artwork that my son, Jared created when he was fifteen. What the full story is about, isn't actually even written on the website yet. But it's needed to come out in more detail, so I'm writing it here.  Coming soon, (not tonight, because it's, well... about 2am... but soon... what's behind the waves. In the meantime, if inclined, you can see the project and purchase fine art for someone whom you love, at: www.wavesoflove.com