Year Four, Day 331, Pandemic Times Day 80, "Stay Home - Stay Safe" Day 67: "Aleph"

                                                   Psalm 119 (KJV)

1ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

3They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

4Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

5O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

6Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

8I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

"Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and signifies the number one. Aleph indicates the Oneness and Unity of the Creator. It hints that beyond the illusion of separation and duality is underlying Oneness – that nothing is separate and the Creator is the source of everything" http://www.walkingkabbalah.com/hebrew-alphabet-letter-meanings/

Good Evening Friends:

It seems ironic that my reading today is from Psalm 119: 1-8. Aleph. "...nothing is separate and the Creator is the source of everything".  

We need to remember we are one.  Especially on the days since George Floyd was murdered. Because the protests are turning violent.  And tensions are high. 

As Governor Jay Inslee's "Stay Home - Stay Safe" order is winding down, he has another major crisis on his hand.  In response to the protests to the death of George Floyd, which have become violent in downtown Seattle, he has activated the National Guard. The major of Seattle previously imposed a 5:00 p.m. curfew.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/seattle-protest-death-of-george-floyd/281-bba2f836-c4a2-48e1-b5df-189527e08a7d

The major of Portland, Oregon, Ted Wheeler, imposed an 8 p.m. curfew in Portland. I just saw live video from downtown. The crowds are getting larger, not smaller.

I cried so many tears for George Floyd. I feel so much pain watching the people protest. So many of them seem to be beyond caring about the future. All this pent up anger over feeling oppressed.  I don't know what it is like to be black in the United States.  But it hurts.

I, like so many, am sitting here watching live videos and being judgmental of the people that are being destructive and looting.

I am trying to keep my mind open, but I do not see how destroying property and putting the lives of all people at risk does anything to alleviate our racist epidemic.  

There are people who wear the badge proudly, taking the oath to serve and protect seriously.  So many policemen and women have openly denounced the murder of George Floyd.

Yet, in all of the live videos of protests across out country I hear people cursing our police force.  I heard of officers that were injured in Seattle.

I think the tensions will rise and more people will be hurt before this gets any better.

Violence during a pandemic.  2020 will be in the history books for sure.  

I felt restless, anxious, and numb in quarantine.

But now I feel enraged, deeply saddened, shaken, tearful and concerned for our country.  More than ever.  Am I crazy to say I prefer quarantine?

George Floyd's death was so tragic.  But his name will not be forgotten.  

Like so many people and events we say we will never forget.

But will we change? 

I hope so.

First a quarantine. Now a curfew.

I may be working from home for a very long time.

Be safe. Be peaceful. Rest in peace George Floyd.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Love,

Zita