Page 51 - December 2018

Honoring a Hero
Kimberly Lewis- Davis
his has been an extremely difficult T time in the life of the Chicago Police Department. We have been impacted by personal life challenges; the murders of Commander Paul Bauer and Officer Sam- uel Jimenez; police shootings; and sui- cides.
As we move to the close of this year, we remember that we still have hope. This is the season of Advent on the Christian cal-
Christmas Day.
The first week of Advent represents hope. Hope is found in
the Lord, which is spoken of in Isaiah 40:30-31. The promise for those that hope in the Lord is that their strength will be renewed and “they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Be en- couraged.
We pray for the Lord’s renewing and regenerating winds to flow in our lives, in our homes and in the life of the Chicago Police Department. May God bless you with an abundance of joy, peace and love this holiday season.
fruits; and give glad tidings to the patient — those who, when affliction befalls them, say, ‘Truly we are God’s, and unto Him we return.’ They are those upon whom come the blessings from their Lord, and compassion, and they are those who are rightly guided.” (Quran, 2:153-157)
Within our daily lives and especially during our tours of duty, we are always approaching the unknown. We have many, many joyful and pleasant moments. As we balance our daily lives enjoying our families and friends and providing services to the citizens of Chicago, we should not ignore the oppor- tunities for personal and professional fulfillment. We should cherish these moments. There will be those days when things don’t seem to be going right, or perhaps things are feeling on a downward slope. It is during these moments that we should remember that we can get through any situation by embrac- ing patience.
As the bestselling poet in the U.S., the 13th-century mystic Rumi, writes: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” May the Lord’s Light enter all of us, and may He heal any wounds we may have or carry. And may God’s light guide us and help illuminate our way so that we have a better under- standing or acceptance of His Wisdom.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse. The blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, he stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, G-d does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Some- times we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who G-d places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way. Good friends are like that: you may not always see them, but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell, and I’ll listen for yours. And re- member: Be kinder to others than necessary — everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply, love gener- ously, care deeply, speak kindly. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a friend carrying a heavy burden when you don’t know what to say is just to be there. Never underestimate the power of your presence, and leave the rest to G-d.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2018 51
endar. Advent is the period of expectation as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Lord and Savior on
Hysni Selenica
he year 2018 is one that we will nev- T er forget. We lost two dear brothers: Commander Paul Bauer and Officer Sam- uel Jimenez. I would like to give my heart- felt condolences to the Jimenez and Bauer families. May God embrace you in His love and may He give you patience, comfort and courage during this difficult time. Our brothers’ service will never be forgotten. As we reflect on this past year and head
into the new year, let us strive to be more patient, maintain hope and work toward connecting a bit more with our Creator. Patience is a quality whose value and power are often under- estimated. It’s hard to talk about the virtue of being patient without sounding preachy. But there is much to learn from the saying “time heals all wounds.”
Within the noble readings of the Holy Quran we find the following passage: “O you who believe! Seek help in patience and prayer. Truly God is with the patient. And say not of those who are slain in the way of God, ‘They are dead.’ Nay, they are alive, but you are unaware. And we will indeed test you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth, souls, and
Rabbi Moshe Wolf
L ife has a way of throwing us a curve- ball every so often. We watch a friend, a coworker, a loved one suffer a loss or tragedy or just face a steep hill in this road called life and you ask yourself, “What do I say when I have nothing to say?” Recently, at the scene of a horrific accident, one of
our members asked me this question.
It brought to mind the story of the two
horses.
Just up the road from where we were staying is a field with
two horses in it.
From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But
if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice some- thing quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse, you will notice that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing. If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from a smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is so he can follow.
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