When Rituals Find Meaning

I grew up in a Seventh-day Adventist Christian home. We Adventists are peculiar in a way unlike many other Christian denominations. Like the Jews, we honor the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a Sabbath - a day on which we set aside the routines of weekly activity, and rest - essential services exempted. Rest, meaning casual, relaxed, respite, different., change of the routine. There are a wide variety of Sabbath activities among Adventists. For some, it's going to church with the family, enjoying family meals in a less hectic environment - in a relaxed atmosphere. For many others, it may include a quiet day at home reading; being with the family, or enjoying a jog or bike ride alone or with friends; a hike in the forest or a gentle stroll through the park. For some others, it's an opportunity to visit those confined by illness, incarceration, or the limitations of aging, visiting hospitals, prisons, nursing homes.

But there some practices that have become rituals. One of those rituals is the way we greet each other. As the sun sets in the western horizon on Friday evenings, the greeting that transcends all and in every language imaginable is: Happy Sabbath! Shabbat Shalom (Jewish), Feliz Sábado (Spanish or Portuguese), Bon Sabbat (French), Salanapa Sabadi Kadepa Gogodala (New Guinea), Sabato njema (Swahili), Gelukkig Sabbat (Dutch) and hundreds more. "Good morning" or "Good day" is often reserved for the rest of the week or selectively used for those presumed to be not Adventists. It has become cultural lingo. It is a greeting that acknowledges the feeling of end-of-the-week exhaustion and gives one a sense of relaxation; of calm exhalation of the previous week's load of responsibility and an opportunity to project hope for the week ahead. Rest, respite, reinvigoration, relaxation, revitalization!

In Jewish tradition, whenever another celebration or holiday fell on the weekly Sabbath, it was regarded as a "high" day - an opportunity for a double celebration. As eventful as this week has been, the news just got better, and Sabbath, sweeter. In a way, a high day! My oncologist texted me early Friday morning because, as he said, he wanted me to wake up to good news. The text was as follows:
"Mr Archer, sorry to text you so early, but I wanted you to wake up with good news: no cancer on the lymph node nor the scar."
That was the Pathology report.

So, with the deepest, sincerest meaning possible, "Happy Sabbath!" It's a high day!

Love and blessings,
Len

The Happiest Places in Americahttp://lenedge.blogspot.com/

I stumbled upon an article in the AARP magazine entitled, 5 happiest cities in America.  There were some surprises: Boulder, CO; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Madison, WI: and Honolulu, HI. The result was based on a Gallup Survey of the cities’ residents. So, it reveals the perception of the residents that were surveyed.  Certainly, if you perceive or believe that you are happy, then you are. The article stated that the

Gallup survey suggests that, with a few exceptions, the happiest residents dwell in midsize cities — that is, big enough to avoid boredom, yet small enough to feel like a real community (and actually find parking when you need it). Here's a sampling of the happiest cities in America, where overall well-being is the overriding vibe.

In trying to understand the results, I researched several characteristics of the cities – their geographic location, weather patterns, and other physical characteristics – that may contribute to the likability of a particular location. Madison is a northern US city with very cold, and sometimes, long winters.  The average monthly temperatures range from 10oF during the winter to a high of 83oF during the summer.

Honolulu is on a tropical island paradise with average monthly temperatures ranging from 65oF to 88oF. Pleasant year-round temperatures, with tropical beaches, flora and fauna provide a relaxing lifestyle for its residents, and one envied by many mainlanders.  Boulder, Colorado is slightly cooler than Wisconsin in the summers as well as having slightly warmer winter temperatures.  Interestingly, Boulder is 5,344 feet above sea level which makes for thinner air, and surrounding mountain ridges and canyons that facilitate lots of winter sports as a result of its heavy snowfall.  In addition, residents of Boulder and the neighboring environs of Denver are actively engaged in outdoor activities like road biking and jogging.  Although Seattle is located further north than Madison, it is generally warmer with far less snow during the winters but experiences cooler summer temperatures.  Seattle is known for its rainy climate, between 3 and 6 inches during the winter months, but with temperatures warmer than Wisconsin but chillier than Honolulu.  Although the average temperatures between Seattle and Boulder are not very different, the altitudes are remarkably dissimilar.  The city of Seattle is primarily at low altitude ranging from sea level to 520 feet.

So what about San Jose?  The average monthly temperatures range from 42oF to 82oF and experiences rainfall measurements of 2 to 3 inches during the Fall and Winter and less than 1 inch from May to October.  These statistics seem to eliminate rainfall, temperature, altitude, latitude, or longitude as contributing factors to happiness.  Weather appears not to be an overriding factor that influences happiness. 

So what are the factors that contribute to happiness?  Maybe a better question would be, “What are the factors or experiences that do not appear to contribute to happiness?”  I was struck by the fact that none of the top five were located in the South, usually characterized as the Bible belt. These states are often characterized as conservative, and part of America’s heartland; regions that pride themselves on their strong moral values, love of country, independence, love of liberty, and so-called "second amendment rights."

A 2009 Gallup tracking poll revealed that the ten states with the highest church attendance in America are southern states, except Utah which was ranked at No. 5. Mississippi was No. 1. These southern states also exhibit the lowest women’s health outcomes. Lowest ranked were Mississippi, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Other studies suggest that these states are generally among the poorest, the fattest and politically conservative.  Residents of the happiest cities are often regarded as liberal, educated, amoral and atheistic.  But is it surprising that the unhappiest people live in regions of America where there appears to be in a perpetual fight against the President, the government, immigration, taxes, their congress, and virtually everything about modern day American society and perpetually engaged in what they call a culture war?

 I consider myself fairly conservative in my lifestyle choices.  My religious beliefs have been a major factor in my outlook on life and I consider myself to be very happy and content with life – all as a result of my religious outlook.  (I am reminded of a song I learnt as a child: “I have a joy in my heart to stay.”) I believe in a Christianity that expresses thankfulness, generosity, and peace of mind; a Christianity that seeks for the happiness of all.  True religion should embody a love of the citizen and the alien, the weak and strong.  Christianity or religion that is meaningful should seek to protect the vulnerable among us; seek to serve the poor and dispossessed and actively demonstrate external serenity.  A religion that simply seeks self-preservation and hoarding of resources is a sad religion and makes for an unhappy people.  So, I end his blog with a question to ponder. Does it mean that religion, or at least the claims of religion, does not play a significant role in happiness among Americans?  Maybe, just maybe, it is the way religion is practiced that generates those unhappy people in those unhappy states and cities.