Steve Ornstein: At 79 years old today reflecting on this moment in my life
At 79 years old today reflecting on this moment in my life. Age appears to be a weird episode in a life that has created so many memories. While I feel so blessed to have an amazing family and friends spending time alone doing and being without effort is a deeply encouraging sign that death too is okay. It is not often I think about life after death nor do I care, but the fear of death seems to be truly waning in its presence in my life.
I once thought I didn’t want to die because there is still so much, I want to live for, and yet presently while I take care of my health, exercise, long daily walks, meditate regularly, and pray I thank God for the blessings I have received.
There is so much to be thankful for but with Liz having passed 4 years ago there is an emptiness in my soul that misses the 48 years that we shared on this earth together. Our three adult children who have their children following their dreams provide great comfort.
How do I begin to explain after all of the travels and places I have been there is no place for me on earth like living in my homeland Israel. It is an EXPERIENCE that defies words and explanations. A comfort zone that allows the deepest integration of one’s being.
It is not a perfect place where craziness abounds but a place where diversity and languages permeate the culture and mindset of our people.
The hate that presently is shared globally about Israel and Jews is so far from the reality on the ground. It is mindboggling. In a war where one’s enemy wants you dead and will murder their people to achieve their goals is almost impossible to fathom. Yet, we have lived through worse and survived and thanks to having our place to live and defend this Jewish nation for all its imperfections has a national passion to live in PEACE.
We have so much to give to the rest of the world that provides better lives for all including our “enemies”.
The young people of our nation are incredible in their commitment to be the best one can be and achieve. Cooperation, and creativity in so many fields are part of who we are as a nation. So many languages and subcultures that have integrated into this nation providing the culture with a vibrant daily experience.
All this goes on in the present as a surreal fantasy adventure. The pain we ALL experience as a nation with the loss especially of our young ones serving in the IDF is monumental in scope. But as a nation, we come together to heal and move on.
The insanity and cruelty that took place on Oct. 7th have shifted the consciousness of being human into a turbulent experience. How is it possible? And yet it happens and those that have this need and desire to mass murder and rape as if it was a sporting event show the human potential to be monsters and create a living hell.
Despite all that, we come together and grieve. We come together and pray for a return of hostages taken by these monsters.
While fighting on all borders of our tiny country we have this incredible inner strength to survive and thrive as a nation.
So at this juncture of my life, embracing love openly shared by all is a miracle unto itself and is never taken for granted.
