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April Musing from Rebecca Crichton: Rebirth and Renewal
April is one of the more beautiful times to be in the Northwest. I am seduced daily—even while still enveloped in my puffy jacket—as I marvel at the cherry blossoms and daffodils. Compared to the heat in other parts of the country, we are fortunate indeed.
I’m always struck by the confluence of the observances of various faith traditions. Passover and Easter fall within the same week this year, and Ramadan recently celebrated Eid al-Fitr to break the month’s fast. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, always falls on the Spring Equinox.
The concept of rebirth and renewal is shared by most traditions. And each of them has its own deeper meaning and practices that express the underlying metaphors embodied in the observance.
My Jewish path provides the spiritual lens through which I experience the world. Passover is rich with symbols and stories that resonate in our secular society. Contemporary approaches to the Passover Seder often ask participants to reflect on the meaning of each symbol in their lives.
An especially meaningful ritual is when we dip a little finger in wine, then touch our plate to create a mark as we name the ancient plagues that led to Moses’ freeing the Hebrew people from the tyranny of Egypt. The Seders I attend always ask participants to name the contemporary plagues we face. It isn’t hard to identify the plagues of Poverty, War, Greed, Climate Change, and Oppression, among others.
We also engage in philosophical queries of how we each have our own inner Pharaohs that can tyrannize our lives. When we personalize this concept, we discover the many ways that our unconscious inner drivers constrain us.
This month’s essay, Take Comfort, riffs on how comfort shows up in my life and the lives of my friends. I hope it helps you to consider what brings you comfort.
As always, we hope you find value in the varied events we share that offer opportunities for learning and discovery.
Wishing you a month blossoming with ample renewal and hope.
Rebecca
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NWCCA’s Collaboration with Town Hall
Design for Longevity: ADUs and Aging in Place
Monday, April 6, 7:30 PM, The Mehdi Reading Room, Town Hall Seattle
Join Lili Weigert, author of Making Space: ADUs for Modern Living, in conversation with local ADU designers Joe Schneider and Mike Freeman of JAS Design Build. They will explore how thoughtful ADU design can support aging in place, foster intergenerational living, and provide resilient housing options for the future. Rebecca Crichton, Executive Director of Northwest Center for Creative Aging, will moderate the discussion.