Angst, too, should have a place.Byline: FROM HEART TO HEART By Irwin Noparstak For The Register-Guard I really enjoy reading the "Heart to Heart" column, and each Saturday turn to this page first. However, in past months I have found myself having a more negative reaction. In my language, the pieces are too gushy gush·y adj. gush·i·er, gush·i·est Marked by excessive displays of sentiment or enthusiasm. gush  i·ly adv. , too sweet. They describe
a path to spiritual practice and living that is clearly wonderful for
the writer but seems too idealistic i·de·al·is·tic adj. Of, relating to, or having the nature of an idealist or idealism. i  de·al·is for me. I am happy for the writer,
but instead of being inspired by these pieces, I find myself feeling I
am a lesser being.
Does this sound confusing? Does this sound like a person who hasn't found his path fully? Yes, it is confusing, and no, I haven't found my path fully. From my spiritual and political perspective, our world is in such a terrible state that I fall into despair if not pain, at times. Intellectually, I know what I can do spiritually to stop that pain and despair. But sometimes I don't do "I Don't Do" was the debut single by glamour model Michelle Marsh, released on 6 November 2006. The single reached 27 in the UK in its first week, selling only 9,000 copies and over 16,000 copies as of January 2007. The single spend a total of four weeks in the Top 75. it, and within that context the "too gushy, too sweet" columns don't work for me. I want to add to "Heart to Heart" from a different place. I want room in this column for other expressions of spirituality: inspiring, yes, but perhaps angst-filled; or maybe confusion-filled; or maybe incomplete. Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't want to stop anyone from writing about their profoundly beautiful and loving spiritual place or evolvement to that place, but I think there is room for something else as well. What can I say that is honest and reflects me at a time that I may be in despair, but that is also inspiring in its own way? Being Jewish, I found myself writing a form of a Psalm - a Psalm for 2005: "I cannot abide the sweetness, the gush of how good goodness is, as a way of being, a way of seeing, a way of being spiritual. `No, I see death and destruction. Neither sweetness nor goodness nor love overcomes it. We move toward war, and war, and war, building more machines of death, creating an economy that destroys the earth and the inhabitants
The game is based loosely on the concepts from SameGame. therein, especially those in `lesser' countries, of `lesser' birth. We are inundated in·un·date tr.v. in·un·dat·ed, in·un·dat·ing, in·un·dates 1. To cover with water, especially floodwaters. 2. with violence and hate, as games, as entertainment. And where else can we go except more power to destroy, destroy our hearts, our bodies, each other ... and the earth. `I can cry out for Amma, for Adonai, for Allah, for Buddha, for Jesus, for Guru, for Great Spirit. I can cry out for light, for love - but it is not enough. I can only become silent, become me, become one ... in the One. "Hear, oh World, the One is One. Salaam sa·laam n. 1. A ceremonious act of deference or obeisance, especially a low bow performed while placing the right palm on the forehead. 2. A respectful ceremonial greeting performed especially in Islamic countries. tr. , Shalom sha·lom interj. Used as a traditional Jewish greeting or farewell. [Hebrew  , Peace."
My Psalm ends with the Jewish "Shema" prayer, which states: "Hear, O Israel, the Eternal your God, the Eternal is One." But my Judaism expands me to encompass all with the One, just as I might chant `Shalom'at times extending the `om' to become `OM,' the inner essence of all mantras. Irwin Noparstak is a member of Temple Beth Israel Beth Israel, which means "House of Israel" in Hebrew, could refer for:
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