Every Friday Shabbat Shalom From a Gentile Father: Blessings, Meditations, and E-Conversations - Paperback

by Larry Rawlins (Author)

As former United Methodists, our daughter's chosen spiritual path in Judaism elicited for us a kaleidoscope of feelings, frustrations, and learning opportunities. We might have anticipated her conversion of heart and soul, because we purposely parented our only child with her developing free will in mind. Nevertheless, lines from the old waltz, "Daddy's Little Girl" - "You're the Christmas angel, my star on the tree; You're the Easter Bunny for Mommy and me . . .." - have a more-than-ever sense of melancholy when they come to mind. Although Jewish traditions are legendary, Christian folk, too, have fancied up more than a few over a couple of millennia. While inevitable, it is also counterproductive in a family to be concerned with comparisons - shul and church, Epiphany and Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah and Christmas, Easter and Passover, Sukkot and - hmm . . . church camp? So what's a father to do? I chose acceptance and support. I accept our daughter's chosen spiritual path and support her as she articulates or demonstrates need. Some of the challenges encountered with our daughter's conversion dealt with kosher food shopping, religious holidays, and "Shabbat (Sabbath)" - no automobile travel or electronic communication from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday). Anticipating Shabbat prompted an opportunity for a series of e-mailed messages from me to our daughter and her family, mainly conveying the blessing, "Shabbat Shalom." The following is a four-year-or-so chronicle of sorts of usually] weekly communications for and with our daughter, her significant others, and ultimately for whomever might find them amusing, comforting, challenging, or just readable.

Author Biography

Larry Rawlins is retired from a varied career as a musician, music teacher, school administrator; career guidance specialist; school counselor; church choir director; and mental health therapist. He is a Missouri/Iowa farm boy who played the clarinet and saxophone in the 9th Infantry Division Army Band in Vietnam and went on to earn advanced degrees in music education and curriculum and instruction. Rawlins is married, since 1966, to Melanie (Eisiminger) Rawlins, and they have one daughter, Lamelle, who has blessed the Rawlinses with three grandchildren. Rawlins has edited one novel, the Values Realization Journal, the Illinois Counseling Association Contact newsletter, and a number of local and regional publications. The current book is a compilation of emails sent to Lamelle, her husband, Rob, and their first child; some conversational commentary is included.