31/05/2023

Available for over a year

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rabbi Jonathan Romain Good morning “How’s your new house?” I said to a member of my synagogue who’d recently moved home. “Oh, it’s lovely”, she replied, ”the only problem is I don’t know anybody and it’s so hard to meet people” It’s not just her. It’s difficult settling into a new neighbourhood, or if you’ve worked for years, never had time for local life, but now retire. The reality is that, with a few exceptions, most people won’t come knocking on your door to say hello and the only way to get to meet others is by getting stuck into some activity – it doesn’t matter what – it could be book reading circle, rambling group, church, charity, voluntary group....whatever...and that way, become part of what’s going on in the area. Still, while all that’s true, that’s not what I told her – No, instead I offered another solution: get a dog, and she would quickly find that people would stop to talk to the dog, slowly let their gaze run up the lead and eventually talk to her as well. Even better, the dog would come home with her, and having a dog (or cat) can transform one’s life. It means there’s always someone to greet you when you come in, someone to talk to, say goodnight to and the house doesn’t feel empty. And of course the great things about pets is that they always listen patiently and never contradict what you’d just said! As for just sitting down and giving your pet a stoke, there are so many studies that say how therapeutic it is and how it can lessen tension and stress...not to mention the exercise you get from walking them So whether you see a pet as a sort of introduction agency, or a domestic friend, or great antidote to a day at work, it’s no wonder that people talk about their pets as being a member of the family, and sometimes even better, as they don’t sulk or answer back! So I thank God for the companionship we can find either in local people or in pets who can help us enjoy the world around us so much more. Amen