Rabbits in the living room 4 Lessons & 2 Miracles May 1, 2016 related by Lenny Schwartz
Sarah was my and Efrat’s first born (Sarah is in her mid 30’s)… Efrat didn’t know if she would/could/should have children (due to her Marfans) - so Sarah was a blessing (and paved the way for our Ella!). Since baby-hood Sarah carries a small piece of rabbit fur with her all the time – as a child, instead of a “blanky” she always had a rabbit pelt! – she calls her fur thing “fluffy”.
Efrat (my best friend for 40yrs and wife of 33yrs) died 03-2016 – Naomi, one of Efrat’s very very close friends and Torah-Chanting students invited Sarah and I to her house for Friday night dinner (neither of us have ever been to Naomi's house or knew anything about her and hubby's hobby)) – Sarah was not overly excited since Naomi & husband & me are “old” people – she imagined the evening could be very boring one. Sarah made it clear that she was NOT going to do it again! Sarah’s negative thoughts (lesson #1) about the visit were entirely based on her assumptions (lesson #2 ) that the visit would not be “enjoyable”… she assumed the worst instead of being open to the possibilities. (lesson#3)
Considering her attitude, I talked with Sarah on the way to the dinner about Conscious Labors & Intentional Suffering (a Gurdjieffian term that is a key to Man’s “evolution”) – doing something intentionally - that we do not want to do – and doing it without expressing negative emotions, criticism, condemnation, complaining or judging. (lesson #4) We had a very good conversation.
We arrived at Naomi’s house.. and were greeted by Naomi and her husband David. Right in the middle of the living room there was a large animal “petting zoo” complete with metal fencing – Rabbits! (1st miracle) (Naomi & her husband told us they have always raised rabbits) – Sarah squealed with joy and immediately picked one up and cuddled the fat fluffy bunny.
The evening was amazing. Sarah and I related stories about Efrat that Naomi relished… Sarah also had many old photos of Efrat on her phone that Naomi flipped over (many I don’t remember ever seeing) – the stories and photos completed Naomi’s emotion connection with her beloved & very good friend & teacher. During the course of the evening the conversation somehow came to a point that allowed me to confide in everyone my pet name for Efrat – in so doing Naomi volunteered HER pet name for her husband – “fluffy” (2nd miracle)… Sarah & I couldn’t believe our ears. We told Naomi & husband Sarah’s pet name for her rabbit fur… we were all in awe. (* note: both sarah and naomi coined the fluffy nick-names about 30 years ago - we met naomi approx in 2007)
What a blessed evening… what lessons. Rabbits in the living room.
