In recent weeks, we packed two bags. One was an evacuation kit, dreading an impending disaster. The other, a hospital bag, in anticipation of a newborn baby.
As I sat with Devorah in the hospital, I thought about the dual purpose of the building. Emergency room visits transported by ambulances with sirens blaring. Sometimes for injury or illness, sometimes for the happiest of occasions; the birth of life.
Looking out of the window, just beyond a row of houses that survived, lay the ruins of homes that were consumed by the Tubbs fire. The image evoking sadness for those who had lost so much, and yet, in the walls of the recovery room so much happiness and light.
Doctors and nurses there for the tough moments in the wake of devastation and tragedy, and there for the best; for birth, healing, and life.
Three angels visited Abraham (who was recovering from his circumcision), each with a mission. One to heal Abraham/rescue Lot, one to deliver the good news that they would be blessed with a baby, and one to destroy the city of Sodom.
As we navigate this puzzling world, we can wonder at times, why me? Why have I been blessed with life?
The answer may be beyond us, but one thing is clear. Now that we are here with the fires finally at 100% containment, we are here for a reason. Let's make it worth it.
No one knows this better than Dr. Jacob Eisenbach, who as a child hid from the Nazis during the Lodz ghetto roundup. He was eventually discovered and deported to Auschwitz. His brother, who was in hiding with him, voluntarily joined him on the transports, refusing to be separated. While Jacob survived the war, his brother was not as lucky.
How do you pick up the pieces, how can we celebrate when others are suffering, how do we move on and make it worth it? Find out how Dr. Eisenbach did it this Thursday.
And in the meantime, I'm grateful to Hashem for being the recipient of blessings, for being chosen for happy occasions, for the Miracle of Life; a beautiful baby boy.