Toda Raba

There is no doubt that we have entered the shroud of a challenging epoch. The strain of the world bears down on all of us a little more each day. And as this burden increases, it can become easy to forget how fortunate and blessed we are.

Difficult times can sometimes cloud our outlook. A sense of vulnerability and hardship can increase one's tendency to fear, to resent, and to worry. This can in turn cause us to look beyond what we have to what we do not or what we once did.

And once this process begins, it reinforces the very negative qualities that started us down that path in the first place. It is a circle of despair.

It is precisely during the difficult times when we should take heart with what we have--not lament that which is gone. It is this mindset that I'm trying to adopt on this Thanksgiving Day in the Holy Land.

There is nowhere else I'd rather be today than at home, watching football, eating Mom's broccoli casserole, and getting ready for the Iron Bowl tomorrow. But this is not to be. Nor is it likely to be next year either.

I am fortunate to have family and friends that have tried to give us some semblance of a traditional Thanksgiving in this far away land. A few of us are planning on getting together at Chris' house tonight and celebrating with the food that we have.

It's going to be strange sitting in a Tel Aviv apartment absent family, home-cooked food, and fighting the Old Man for whatever is left of the dessert. This is the first Thanksgiving I that spent away from home. I realize it won't be the last. My choices, few of which I regret, make that an unfortunate certainty. However, I take heart knowing that many of you have kept us in your prayers and have kept an interest in this blog and what's going on in my life and in the lives of those in the program.

It has been a very humbling experience and I am extremely thankful for all of the support that I've received. And I'm excited about what the future holds, even if things appear to be daunting in the present.

I'll leave everyone with this picture, taken from our balcony a couple of weeks ago when Israel experienced some much-needed rain. I think it pretty much speaks for itself.



I'll try to have another post up this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Drew

P.S. A special thanks to Aunt Jeanie and Aunt Dorenda for the care package! My inner fat kid couldn't be happier.