Why is this Night Different from all Others?

A long time ago, in another lifetime, I was married to a very nice Jewish man. He was creative and funny and very opinionated. Actually, his entire family was very opinionated. They used to sit around their dinner table and express their opinions--on everything from world affairs to politics. Why chicken schmaltz is known as Liquid Gold. Oh, and my husband and his brother could spend an hour or more arguing about who's the better comic book superhero--The Green Lantern or The Iron Man.

They would disagree and interrupt each other and tell silly jokes, overdosing on puns, cracking each other up.

All this without the benefit of Irish whiskey.

The dinners were mesmerizing. I couldn't keep up and I definitely never entered into the fray because I knew I would quickly be swept aside by all that witty banter bouncing about the table. And so, I kept quiet and learned.

I learned a lot about Judaism. I attended temple with the family and I joined something called a Havurah. (a small group of like-minded couples). Oh, and I learned a whole lot of Yiddish. For me--a poetry major in college with a life-long love of language--well, that was the most delicious part of being adopted into the tribe.

During the Passover Seder, the youngest gets to ask the first question--the first question being, why is this night different from all others? And since I was the youngest and new to the story of Passover, I was chosen to ask the first question. Sometimes I even got to ask all four questions. Imagine how lovely that was for me--to have my husband and his brilliant parents, his brother and his sister patiently explain to me why this night is different, how the salt water dip symbolizes the bitter tears of ancient slavery, but that dipping a vegetable twice symbolizes freedom and even luxury.

I never tired of playing the role of the questioning young person.

Creative Friends--creativity comes from a place of questioning, curiosity and innocence. Your assignment for this week is to not be the smartest person around the table. Ask why this night is different from all others. Then, wait in the mysterious in-between. Be still and listen And then—fill yourself with wonderment.

Happy Passover.

Love,

Jamie