I am happy to be among your first readers tonight, Mr. Hubbell. Thank you for the shift to what is happening to our fellow citizens and our fellow human beings. I would add only Puerto Rico to a place that needs our mindfulness.
I will sleep better tonight for having read your newsletter.
I agree about Puerto Rico, but they are getting some FEMA help. Good! What about Cuba? We need to remove the blockade. They are human beings too. Sixty years is long enough.
Yes! Literally I ne year ago today I began walking the El Camino (Spain) with four of my Puert Rican friends. Not only beautiful people but *far* more “patriotic” than most of us on the mainland and they soooo identified with the US. Today they are still without power and water and no sense of when things will be restored. Please pray for them and all of their/our people!
And after adding the people of Puerto Rico and Cuba, add in the Canadians in the Eastern provinces. Fiona was dangerous and deadly throughout. Sadly, Ian will likely be worse.
I have been reading not just about Puerto Rico and Florida, but also about all the men fleeing Russia to avoid war, the tearing apart of families. So much sadness in the world. May the storms, both environmental and political, change us into a kinder, more compassionate people.
The pain of our great cleaving in America pales in comparison to the anguish that is felt across Florida tonight. For now I can only think of offering the text of the Hashkiveinu prayer, uttered before bedtime. It really envisions the Divine as a guide and shelter during the night ahead and praises the Divine for watching over us, delivering us, and being merciful. There’s something profoundly comforting about the basic human terms in which this prayer speaks -- may it comfort those who need it most tonight and in the weeks ahead.
Grant, O God, that we lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Guide us with Your good counsel; for Your Name’s sake, be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of Your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For You, God, watch over us and deliver us. For You, God, are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming, to life and to peace evermore.
Lovely! Not unlike my favorite evening prayer from the Episcopal church. "Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake."
Thank you Leslie for this reminder that so many groups throughout history have called upon the Divine "as a guide and shelter." It is "profoundly comforting." For me, after a hiatus from religions and a recovering from my Catholic upbringing, I am grateful to have found that I can be spiritual, can believe in the Non-physical, whatever one wants to call it/him/her, without having to follow beliefs that no longer serve.
So my prayer is an affirmation that as Children of the Divine, we all do have access to this Source of the intangibles that we cannot buy in the store, such as peace, love, joy, justice, comfort, to name a few. The flourishing of these qualities does not depend solely on our ability to overcome our "human shortcomings." Rather we can claim them and hold the intention to bring them forth in our efforts to love ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, and even, as one Rabbi taught, our enemies.
Thank you, Chaplain, for a profound affirmation of the fact that one need not follow a particular faith tradition to accept, espouse and live, to the best of our ability, the teachings of those prophets who were Divinely inspired.
I don't believe in an omnipotent god, but a God of love who is there to comfort any who are in distress. By praying, we're aligning ourselves with a God who desires long life and fulfillment for all her creatures. I'm not an outlier in this belief. I'm also a Presbyterian minister.
I remember reading something like this somewhere: When God created man (and woman) she/he bestowed upon them free will. That ability to choose, IMO, has brought self-inflicted misery.
Thanks for your uplifting message tonight! I was struck with how gracious President Biden was in reassuring the Governor and people of Florida that the United States of America will be there for them. No petty or vindictive nonsense—just a President being there for the people he serves.
I too was struck by Pres. Biden's graciousness, and understanding of his and our government's role during times like these, but I personally struggle with what I know is ahead. After DeSantis gets what he wants and needs, he will revert back to the hatred that we all know so well. He will not hesitate to skewer Joe Biden personally, and politically, to advance his own ambitions, and his Floridian voters will follow right along like lemmings once again, forgetting the president who was truly there for them when they desperately needed the help.
This scenario has played out over and over again. There is peace among the parties when red states need government help, then they turn on the very people who offered a hand and a heart and blame them for everything in the end.
I apologize for the dourness of my comments, but we all know that this is how it is when people/politicians who are only interested in advancing their own power need help, and then they don't. Mark my words.... the DeSantis attack dog et al, will resurface soon enough. The thought of it makes me ill....
Sadly I agree with you. Sadly, my first thoughts on this catastrophe were political. I imagine DeSantis wringing his hands with glee and using this for political gain. He will take credit for what goes well and blame Biden for what goes wrong. It’s a win-win for him. He’s already demonstrated his disregard for human life.
Thank you Robert and President Biden for your optimism and charity and the reminder that we are one nation.
I've only heard bits and snatches, but I believe DeSatan said something to the effect that they expected 100% of Florida's needs to be met as their rightful reimbursement (presumably of taxes.) His tone was far from contrite much less grateful for help. His fans are praising him, when it's FEMA and Corps of Engineers from far and wide who will be the follow-up personnel as ordered by Biden.
Hi J - I agree with you. When red needs blue, we are there with hearts, souls and resources. Government at its best IS working together for the common good, but individual and mob narcissism can never be satisfied, and DeSantis and lemmings will come out swinging. What a strange way to live one's life. I should know, my father is no exception. It's been "too little and never enough" for decades. As he aged, I went legal on him and took his power away from so he could no longer harm family members. It nearly broke my back - literally - but I did it. thanks for your comment.
I am always impressed by President Biden. He is a truly decent man. I believe he is the best president we have had in my lifetime, and I feel grateful for him and his administration, for their belief in and demonstration of competent government. May our country realize what good hands we are in.
Thanks for the prayers in the two posts above. Thanks, too, for Grant McPhail's comment. I struggle with that concept.
May Florida come through this. May our country come together to advance whatever technologies and natural means to protect our vulnerable coastlines. These are the types of projects our nation should approach together.
Robert, Your heartfelt comments are certainly welcome to Scott and I this evening. We are awaiting Ian‘s arrival in Orange County/Orlando. It has been raining all day and we have emptied the pool three times. The storm is moving so slow, I fear the rain & flooding. Since we don’t know if we’ll lose power during the night I made a pot of coffee for the morning even cold it will taste good. I will let you know in the morning how things go. Thank you for your grace & kindness. Hugs to all, Susan Windmiller
Thank you, Robert and Jill, for your caring message. A wealthy, democratic country like ours can protect and heal and restore us as needed. History shows that authoritarian regimes lack the desire to take on external crises, like a Hurricane Ian. Tragically, it's likely that DeSantis's anti-government rants will resume as soon as he gets all the federal aid and other resources he wants for Florida. Even as we send good wishes to Floridians and donate to aid organizations, we must remain mindful that America's future depends on mutual trust, generosity, decency, and respect.
I lived through the Columbus Day storm in the Pacific Northwest in October of 1962. The winds hit 145 miles an hour. I was on my way home riding in my Grandfather‘s company car, he worked for the power company, and it was his job to keep the radio communication system up and running across Western Washington from the Canadian border south to Oregon. The storm hit our location an hour before it was expected, leaving me a terrified 13-year-old. There was massive destruction from the wind and rain. The island I lived on lost all electric power for two weeks, and restoring power to my family home took two more weeks to get power. My father's life depended on keeping his insulin cold so it would not spoil. The unknown people who gave precious cold storage space for insulin saved the lives of all the diabetics on the island. The winds of Ian rattle my bones fifty years later. God bless you and keep you in this time of trial such that you lose not things eternal.
A very good decision, Robert. As a survivor of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (and a few others), I am well aware of the pain and devastation a Category 4 or 5 hurricane can cause. Miami itself didn't get the brunt of Andrew, but south Miami-Dade County did, and it was pure devastation. Unimaginable. Your readers can read about the details - the numbers. I can tell you about volunteers filling buses to help. The 82nd Airborne was there. Strong young men giving people blankets. . . making small packets of laundry detergent from the huge container. The donations of food and toiletries coming in from all around the country, as we could see from some of the affixed address labels. One lady even sent a carefully wrapped white lace handkerchief. There was no category for that loveliness, so we just placed it in a prominent location to remind us all of normalcy - beauty and, most of all, thoughtfulness. At one point, I remember having to find a private place to just finally cry. Sob, actually. It was just all too much. The government and the people brought it back, and with stricter building codes, but the horror will never be forgotten. My heart is wholly with the people who are going through this terrifying ordeal now. Yes, you will rebuild. Many of us right here will help you. And, yes, you, too, will always remember. - Safe but sad in Miami Springs
Thanks Robert & Jill for your connection to our common humanity and cares for all in the path of Hurricane Ian. We really are all on this planet together
Interesting that you mention “the common good”. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. It seems like our worst loss over the last 40 years. Not sure how or if we’ll get it back; but, I’m so glad Biden’s our president.
I have been in touch with several friends and family in Florida-progressives and conservatives alike. President Biden did not bat an eyelash, when Governor DeSantis sent him a formal request for assistance. Indeed, federal aid was poised and ready to head to Florida, even before the governor's request. No genuine human being would hesitate to help, at such a time as this.
My son and family in Sarasota lost power at 1 pm. They live inland 15 miles so I expect the greatest dangers are wind and the foot of rain predicted. And how slowly the storm is moving. I am very worried and I know he can’t be in touch.
I am happy to be among your first readers tonight, Mr. Hubbell. Thank you for the shift to what is happening to our fellow citizens and our fellow human beings. I would add only Puerto Rico to a place that needs our mindfulness.
I will sleep better tonight for having read your newsletter.
I agree about Puerto Rico, but they are getting some FEMA help. Good! What about Cuba? We need to remove the blockade. They are human beings too. Sixty years is long enough.
Thanks, Virginia. Yes, it's past time for that and so very much more
Thanks for adding Puerto Rico. I also thought of that.
So many seem to not realize that Puerto Rico is part of the United States.
Yes! Literally I ne year ago today I began walking the El Camino (Spain) with four of my Puert Rican friends. Not only beautiful people but *far* more “patriotic” than most of us on the mainland and they soooo identified with the US. Today they are still without power and water and no sense of when things will be restored. Please pray for them and all of their/our people!
And after adding the people of Puerto Rico and Cuba, add in the Canadians in the Eastern provinces. Fiona was dangerous and deadly throughout. Sadly, Ian will likely be worse.
Nice comment; thank you.
I have been reading not just about Puerto Rico and Florida, but also about all the men fleeing Russia to avoid war, the tearing apart of families. So much sadness in the world. May the storms, both environmental and political, change us into a kinder, more compassionate people.
The pain of our great cleaving in America pales in comparison to the anguish that is felt across Florida tonight. For now I can only think of offering the text of the Hashkiveinu prayer, uttered before bedtime. It really envisions the Divine as a guide and shelter during the night ahead and praises the Divine for watching over us, delivering us, and being merciful. There’s something profoundly comforting about the basic human terms in which this prayer speaks -- may it comfort those who need it most tonight and in the weeks ahead.
הַשְׁכִּיבֵֽנוּ, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽנוּ, לְשָׁלוֹם, וְהַעֲמִידֵנוּ שׁוֹמְרֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים, וּפְרֹשׂ עָלֵֽנוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶֽךָ, וְתַקְּנֵֽנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶֽךָ, וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ לְמַֽעַן שְׁמֶךָ. וְהָגֵן בַּעֲדֵֽנוּ, וְהָסֵר מֵעָלֵֽינוּ אוֹיֵב, דֶּֽבֶר, וְחֶֽרֶב, וְרָעָב, וְיָגוֹן, וְהָרְחֵק מִמֶּֽנּוּ עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע. וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנוּ, כִּי אֵל שׁוֹמְרֵֽנוּ וּמַצִּילֵֽנוּ אָֽתָּה, כִּי אֵל חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָֽתָּה. וּשְׁמֹר צֵאתֵֽנוּ וּבוֹאֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלֹם מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, שׁוֹמֵר עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַד.
Grant, O God, that we lie down in peace, and raise us up, our Guardian, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Guide us with Your good counsel; for Your Name’s sake, be our help. Shield and shelter us beneath the shadow of Your wings. Defend us against enemies, illness, war, famine and sorrow. Distance us from wrongdoing. For You, God, watch over us and deliver us. For You, God, are gracious and merciful. Guard our going and coming, to life and to peace evermore.
Lovely! Not unlike my favorite evening prayer from the Episcopal church. "Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake."
Leslie, stunned. Thank you for sharing this chant. We are all Job standing steadfast in our divine love.
Thanks Leslie.
Thank you Leslie for this reminder that so many groups throughout history have called upon the Divine "as a guide and shelter." It is "profoundly comforting." For me, after a hiatus from religions and a recovering from my Catholic upbringing, I am grateful to have found that I can be spiritual, can believe in the Non-physical, whatever one wants to call it/him/her, without having to follow beliefs that no longer serve.
So my prayer is an affirmation that as Children of the Divine, we all do have access to this Source of the intangibles that we cannot buy in the store, such as peace, love, joy, justice, comfort, to name a few. The flourishing of these qualities does not depend solely on our ability to overcome our "human shortcomings." Rather we can claim them and hold the intention to bring them forth in our efforts to love ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, and even, as one Rabbi taught, our enemies.
Thank you, Chaplain, for a profound affirmation of the fact that one need not follow a particular faith tradition to accept, espouse and live, to the best of our ability, the teachings of those prophets who were Divinely inspired.
You are very welcome, Dave. I'm very moved by your summary of what I was trying to express. Blessings,
💙💙💙
It's your same god who is doing this, if you believe in an omnipotent god. Why pray to undo the misery that god hath wrought.
I don't believe in an omnipotent god, but a God of love who is there to comfort any who are in distress. By praying, we're aligning ourselves with a God who desires long life and fulfillment for all her creatures. I'm not an outlier in this belief. I'm also a Presbyterian minister.
If God=Love, then Love=God. Works for me!
I remember reading something like this somewhere: When God created man (and woman) she/he bestowed upon them free will. That ability to choose, IMO, has brought self-inflicted misery.
We can also use our free will intelligently and not destructively.
That's my choice, Michael.
Thanks for your uplifting message tonight! I was struck with how gracious President Biden was in reassuring the Governor and people of Florida that the United States of America will be there for them. No petty or vindictive nonsense—just a President being there for the people he serves.
I too was struck by Pres. Biden's graciousness, and understanding of his and our government's role during times like these, but I personally struggle with what I know is ahead. After DeSantis gets what he wants and needs, he will revert back to the hatred that we all know so well. He will not hesitate to skewer Joe Biden personally, and politically, to advance his own ambitions, and his Floridian voters will follow right along like lemmings once again, forgetting the president who was truly there for them when they desperately needed the help.
This scenario has played out over and over again. There is peace among the parties when red states need government help, then they turn on the very people who offered a hand and a heart and blame them for everything in the end.
I apologize for the dourness of my comments, but we all know that this is how it is when people/politicians who are only interested in advancing their own power need help, and then they don't. Mark my words.... the DeSantis attack dog et al, will resurface soon enough. The thought of it makes me ill....
As Mrs Obama said: when they go low we go high.
Biden will remain on the high road. The Governor is free to choose his road.
❤️
Please take heart in knowing that all of us who live and vote in Florida are not lemmings
I just hope and pray that there are enough of us.
Amen sistah!
Those "other" folks live in Flawed-Ah. Keep on keeping on, Glenny!
💙 Stay safe!
Sadly I agree with you. Sadly, my first thoughts on this catastrophe were political. I imagine DeSantis wringing his hands with glee and using this for political gain. He will take credit for what goes well and blame Biden for what goes wrong. It’s a win-win for him. He’s already demonstrated his disregard for human life.
Thank you Robert and President Biden for your optimism and charity and the reminder that we are one nation.
Sad but true, may some shed the mantle of hate
I've only heard bits and snatches, but I believe DeSatan said something to the effect that they expected 100% of Florida's needs to be met as their rightful reimbursement (presumably of taxes.) His tone was far from contrite much less grateful for help. His fans are praising him, when it's FEMA and Corps of Engineers from far and wide who will be the follow-up personnel as ordered by Biden.
I wonder how many Americans – Floridians, in this case, know that FEMA, the Corps of Engineers, and the Coast Guard are *Federal* agencies.
Hi J - I agree with you. When red needs blue, we are there with hearts, souls and resources. Government at its best IS working together for the common good, but individual and mob narcissism can never be satisfied, and DeSantis and lemmings will come out swinging. What a strange way to live one's life. I should know, my father is no exception. It's been "too little and never enough" for decades. As he aged, I went legal on him and took his power away from so he could no longer harm family members. It nearly broke my back - literally - but I did it. thanks for your comment.
I am always impressed by President Biden. He is a truly decent man. I believe he is the best president we have had in my lifetime, and I feel grateful for him and his administration, for their belief in and demonstration of competent government. May our country realize what good hands we are in.
Thanks for the prayers in the two posts above. Thanks, too, for Grant McPhail's comment. I struggle with that concept.
May Florida come through this. May our country come together to advance whatever technologies and natural means to protect our vulnerable coastlines. These are the types of projects our nation should approach together.
Fingers crossed.
Robert, Your heartfelt comments are certainly welcome to Scott and I this evening. We are awaiting Ian‘s arrival in Orange County/Orlando. It has been raining all day and we have emptied the pool three times. The storm is moving so slow, I fear the rain & flooding. Since we don’t know if we’ll lose power during the night I made a pot of coffee for the morning even cold it will taste good. I will let you know in the morning how things go. Thank you for your grace & kindness. Hugs to all, Susan Windmiller
All good thoughts to you, Susan, Scott and everyone in Ian's path.
Wrapping arms around you in a huge hug. 🕊️
Thinking of you in Orlando
Seconding Robert’s (and Jill’s)well wishes to anyone from Florida who is reading this. We are holding you in our thoughts. 🙏🙏🙏
Mother Earth is trying to tell us something. Hopefully we won’t need too many more reminders that all of us must be part of the change we need.
I sure hear it loud and clear.
Thank you, Robert and Jill, for your caring message. A wealthy, democratic country like ours can protect and heal and restore us as needed. History shows that authoritarian regimes lack the desire to take on external crises, like a Hurricane Ian. Tragically, it's likely that DeSantis's anti-government rants will resume as soon as he gets all the federal aid and other resources he wants for Florida. Even as we send good wishes to Floridians and donate to aid organizations, we must remain mindful that America's future depends on mutual trust, generosity, decency, and respect.
I lived through the Columbus Day storm in the Pacific Northwest in October of 1962. The winds hit 145 miles an hour. I was on my way home riding in my Grandfather‘s company car, he worked for the power company, and it was his job to keep the radio communication system up and running across Western Washington from the Canadian border south to Oregon. The storm hit our location an hour before it was expected, leaving me a terrified 13-year-old. There was massive destruction from the wind and rain. The island I lived on lost all electric power for two weeks, and restoring power to my family home took two more weeks to get power. My father's life depended on keeping his insulin cold so it would not spoil. The unknown people who gave precious cold storage space for insulin saved the lives of all the diabetics on the island. The winds of Ian rattle my bones fifty years later. God bless you and keep you in this time of trial such that you lose not things eternal.
A very good decision, Robert. As a survivor of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 (and a few others), I am well aware of the pain and devastation a Category 4 or 5 hurricane can cause. Miami itself didn't get the brunt of Andrew, but south Miami-Dade County did, and it was pure devastation. Unimaginable. Your readers can read about the details - the numbers. I can tell you about volunteers filling buses to help. The 82nd Airborne was there. Strong young men giving people blankets. . . making small packets of laundry detergent from the huge container. The donations of food and toiletries coming in from all around the country, as we could see from some of the affixed address labels. One lady even sent a carefully wrapped white lace handkerchief. There was no category for that loveliness, so we just placed it in a prominent location to remind us all of normalcy - beauty and, most of all, thoughtfulness. At one point, I remember having to find a private place to just finally cry. Sob, actually. It was just all too much. The government and the people brought it back, and with stricter building codes, but the horror will never be forgotten. My heart is wholly with the people who are going through this terrifying ordeal now. Yes, you will rebuild. Many of us right here will help you. And, yes, you, too, will always remember. - Safe but sad in Miami Springs
Thanks Robert & Jill for your connection to our common humanity and cares for all in the path of Hurricane Ian. We really are all on this planet together
Interesting that you mention “the common good”. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. It seems like our worst loss over the last 40 years. Not sure how or if we’ll get it back; but, I’m so glad Biden’s our president.
I have been in touch with several friends and family in Florida-progressives and conservatives alike. President Biden did not bat an eyelash, when Governor DeSantis sent him a formal request for assistance. Indeed, federal aid was poised and ready to head to Florida, even before the governor's request. No genuine human being would hesitate to help, at such a time as this.
Thank you for always focusing our attention on what is most important.
My son and family in Sarasota lost power at 1 pm. They live inland 15 miles so I expect the greatest dangers are wind and the foot of rain predicted. And how slowly the storm is moving. I am very worried and I know he can’t be in touch.
Yes, sending good wishes for them and hope for you that you hear from them soon. Waiting is so so hard.
Fingers crossed for you, Elizabeth.
Sending prayers your loved ones are safe.
🕊️❤️
Let us not forget our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico.