I walked on the Pier above the Saint Lawrence River

Earth Etude for Elul 2

by Enid C. Lader

I walked on the pier above the Saint Lawrence River

It happened to be across the street from a grand cathedral built in honor of Saint Anne…

To become a saint, people must attest to miracles performed…

As you walk into the cathedral’s sanctuary, crutches and walking sticks and canes are gathered into two displays—

We can walk! It’s a miracle!

Walking back from the river, the wind was quite strong- everyone held on to their hats…

The undulations of the river were then carried forward to the tall grasses of the marshland shore… an amazing and beautiful ripple effect – no pun intended. 

From the water to the grasses to me…

How was I affected?

How lucky to have been able to notice the patterns of the waves in the water that were carried through the grasses…

And yet, that’s all well and good, but how well do I notice what’s rippling around me and how I am affected by that?

Elul is a month of ripples and invites us to give up our crutches and canes and walking sticks — all those behaviors that keep us from moving forward on our own. 

Hold on to your hats!

Enid Lader (AJR ’10) is the Rabbi Emerita at Beth Israel – The West Temple in Cleveland, Ohio. She serves on the AJR and ARC Board of Directors, and is the visiting rabbi for the Jewish residents of Kendal at Oberlin, a senior community. She and her husband, Harry, enjoy the blessings of grandchildren and retirement.

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