Ner Hashem Nishmat Adam

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A colleague of mine went to sleep on the first night of Passover and never woke up. May his family find comfort. We often hear sayings about living each day like it's your last. This man was not old or sick. There was no warning. How many are the lessons of a decent man's sudden death?

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"Once we made a promise we swore we'd always remember: No retreat, baby, no surrender." What does that Springsteen quote say to you? Have you ever had something that you swore you'd never back down on? What promises to your self have you kept? Broken?

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Bob Seger wrote: "Dreams die hard and we watch them erode. But we cannot be denied the fire inside." Did you ever have a fire in your belly? Did you ever keep a fire inside burning for a long time? Did it ever burn strong at first and then you surrendered your will, let the fire peter out? How does it feel when you retreat and surrender? How does it feel when you persevere?

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Someone told me that tears are the sweat of the heart. What do you say about that? Is it cathartic to cry? Embarrassing? Healthy? I saw a picture once of Ronald and Nancy Reagan crying. She was wiping her eyes and he was blowing his nose. Did you ever notice that men cry through their noses?

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I'm In Awe Of Richard Wright's Haiku

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My shadow was sad

When I took it from the sand

Of the gleaming beach.

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From across the lake,

Past the black winter trees,

Faint sounds of a flute.

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My cold and damp feet

Feel as distant as the moon

On this autumn night.

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A sick cat seeks out

A stiff and frozen willow

Under which to die.

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In my sleep at night,

I keep pounding an anvil

Heard during the day.

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Burning out its time,

And timing its own burning,

One lonely candle.