A Time of Miracles & Hope

Today, Christians celebrate Christmas and Jews, Hanukkah. I will spend time with my family as they celebrate Christmas and tonight at sundown, will light the candles of my Chanukkiah and say the blessings for the first time.

There are those who are far from home defending our liberties. There are some who are making preparations for deployment and some are coming home. Some are recovering from wounds received. And some families are celebrating the joy of all being home for the first time in awhile.

There are some that need all of our prayers. One who is dealing with the terminal illness of a father and another who has lost a beloved sister.

This holiday season is bittersweet for me. Friday was such a good day until I drove on Hwy 90 in Biloxi. It had just re-opened Wednesday after Katrina hit. It's hard to reconcile what I saw with what it used to look like. But like many on the Mississippi Coast, it's a day by day thing. Many are thankful for the gift of FEMA trailers and are somehow managing to stuff a multitude of people in a 20ft by 30ft space. Our communities are pulling together. Many houses of faith were destroyed or severely damaged. The Beth Israel Synagogue is holding it's Shabbos services at Beauvior Methodist Church. Catholics are holding masses at Baptist churches.

The sweetness of life is coming back. For even though the destruction is horrible and the rebuilding is going to be a mammoth task, the people of South Mississippi will make it happen. It is going to take all of us down here , the volunteer groups, and federal aid. But it will only seem miraculous the way we will work together and rebuild our Coast. The true miracle is the faith, hope, and love each one of us shares with the many volunteers who can see beyond the destruction and envision the new and better Coast. L'Chaim!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!