Please post or publish my newest story. ----- Original Message ----- From: joseph mazzella To: cynthia groopman Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 11:28 AM Subject: reformatted story: God opened my eyes spiritually
God Opened my Eyes Spiritually By: Cynthia Groopman Can you image having my eyes opened again after being blind for 22 years? Well, this occurred nine eyars ago when I was caressed by God in His providing me with a spiritual reawakening. It was a beautiful August day in 2001, a hot humid sunny morning, a Saturday for which I counted each day since Dec. 2000. I truly was looking forward to that special day, when my eyes would be opened and I would see the light of the lord, the eternal flame, the holy soft beacon of reassuring spiritual light. It all started in September of 2000. The Astoria center of Israel, the oldest conservative synagogue in the Astoria Woodside Area that was built in the 1920's was a majestic build and it's a sanctuary with regal's murals on the walls, it beatuiful ark its exquiste Torah scrolls, and the Divine presence dwelling within, welcomed me. I felt elated and a Divine spark entered my heart as the Torah was marched around with joy and I touched its velvety cover. Oh, that elation feeling of a spiritual reawakening had never happened to me in my life. I was 52 years totally blind never atteded a service for 40 years but eager and like an errant flower wanting to bloom in the Garden of the Lord's house. The electrical spark made me glow with a golden majestic radiance none that was ever experienced previously in my life. I was then asked to open the holy Ark and I did and again the Light of God's torch was so bright beaming into my eyes. That light was so soft and calming and welcoming to me. I was hooked to Synagogue life as a result. My goal was to have a Bat mitzvah. That is the coming of age for girls when they reach 12 or 13 years of age, when they take the responsiblity of being an adult and following the commandments. As a child, in the traditional Judaism synagogue these were frowned upon and not an obligation for a girl but for a boy. With this dream in my heart, I moved forward and yes, obtained the materials in Hebrew braille and in english braille for the 49th chapter of Isaiah and 50th and 51st chapters and learned to chant them. It took six months for me to do so with the Rabbi's help. I counted and counted the days and my friends staff from the senior center where I work, and congregational members were all awaiting my big day. My mother bought me a beautiful tallit, a prayer shawl where I wrapped myself into holiness. Practicing each day from December to August 10th enabled me to actually memorize the scripture. We were going tohave a party called a Kiddish meaning sanctificaton or making the occasion holy after the ceremony. Days passed and I was feeling butterflies in my stomach but happy ones of elation began to dance and sing. At 10:40 A.M. on August 11, 2001, I was called to the torah and thus my dream of becoming a bat mitzvah became a reality. My eyes opened and I saw God's spiritual light again this time the light was as bright as the rainbow of hope that shone in my life's sky ever since Sept. 2000 when I was first spiritually reawakened. I chanted with joy and with emotion and put my all in the scripture of Isaiah. For God did not foresake or forget me as the scripture went for no longer was I living in a world of spiritual darkness. I also gave a speech full of my own comments and it was spontaneously delivered. Then speeches by the president, the ladies' guild vice president a gift presentation, a certificate presentation the Rabbi's presentation and then singing and rejoicing by the congregation. I had tears of joy in my eyes, and they also shone with God's light of spiritual elation and gladness. The food was delicious and we all filled our physical bodies, but my heart, soul and spirit were filled with doses of spiritual sunshine in which I bask everyday. I am now one of the co-presidents of the congregation, serve on the board of trustees, give speeches at occasions eulogies and also read my poems at occasions. I have come a long way but the opening of my eyes was the highlight of my life. I may not see physically through those brown eyes, but those same eyes beam at being spiritually vibrant and enriched and religiously satisfied. I also study with another lady and we learn the bible and other prayers and again my hunger and thurst for learning my religion has opened my eyes further. God has plans for us in little seeds or small dreams that become realities like the flowers of springtime or the rainbow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. Learn more. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en.
