I wish I could write every day. I think about writing every day, but life, work, facebook all get in the way of expressing all the things I would love to talk about.

I also find myself talking about different anniversaries of things often. I don’t know if it is normal or not to remember the things I remember in as much detail as I remember them, but I do. I remember dates, places, the people I was with and especially the music that is connected to the event or memory. If you are a friend of mine on facebook you know that music keeps me going. It is my heartbeat.

Well, one year ago, I was dancing at Decks, beginning my amazing JWRP journey of TAG – transform and grow trip to Israel. I remember standing with one of the girls from the trip and crying. After we looked at each other crying we just laughed. It has been a crazy amazing journey from that point and the twelve months that have followed.

As I have talked about before, one of “grow” parts of the transform and grow mission was to continue learning by attending classes when we came back home. It really has been an amazing year. Every six weeks we embark on a new topic that is our baseline for the next six weeks. They have ranged from Judaism 101, really understanding the who, what, where when and whys of our customs, holidays, traditions and stories. Our group all come from diverse Jewish backgrounds, some with more knowledge than others and some who just need more explanation on who we are, and why we do what we do.

Most recently the class topic has been why do bad things happen to good people? We have been working through this for almost six weeks now, and even though we have covered so much, I know that we have barely scratched the surface. Sometimes after the classes I am left with more questions than answers. But I suppose that is normal.

“everything happens for a reason” and that everything has a purpose and a meaning is another underlying theme that plays out in almost every discussion we have. Even getting to go to Israel on this particular trip would fall into the category of everything happens for a reason.

As I think you know by now, I applied to go on this trip before in the summer of 2011 and didn’t get on that trip. I am so happy that I didn’t get on that trip. That trip wasn’t for me. I was meant to go last year. Meant to meet a specific person who has helped me with my spiritual guidance. There is a master plan working in our lives at all times. Getting back to why bad things happen – we aren’t supposed to know that at that time. We will understand it when all the cards in the deck are dealt and the hand is clear. For the most part it isn’t clear for a long time, and maybe for some things, never will be clear.

I am so grateful for the gifts I have been given.

“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason.
Bringing something we must learn. 
And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them.
And we help them in return.
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true, but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you…”
– From Wicked