What does it mean to be a friend? To be a Friend? My sister-in-law, who is a friend suggested that we stay at Pendle HIll, http://www.pendlehill.org, a retreat and conference center very close to Swarthmore run by the Quakers, the Friends. It is beautiful here. Lots of walking trails. Very green. Pretty. Quiet. Peaceful.

Through the years I have learned a little about Quakers. My therapist is a Jewish Quaker. She participates in Friends meeting in Cambridge. She likes their worship style with its commitment to quietude. She likes their commitment to social justice. To peacemaking. To keeping the light. It feeds her soul. Who am I to argue?

I think when I stay at a place like this I am expecting the big insight. But when you go looking for the big insight is usually not when you find one. This past week I sang Lechi Lach, based on Abraham’s journey. “Lechi Lach, to a land that I will show you. Lech lecha, to a place you do not know. Lechi lach on your journey I will bless you…and you shall be a blessing….lechi lach.” The rabbis teach that this means to go towards yourself, to go inward, to find yourself. Perhaps that is what this vacation has been about. Finding the quiet time to go inward.

Abraham didn’t know where he was going. Does any of us? Who could have predicted that I would be in Elgin, IL and that it would feel right? So I sang it this week at the mikveh.  It was sung at A’s Bat Mitzvah. It would be perfect for a college graduate too, unsure of the next step.

Perhaps it is reflective of Shavuot. The Israelites went the long way to Sinai. They didn’t know where they were going either! Then there they were! Standing at Sinai! And even though G-d and Moses told them to prepare, they were not ready. Are any of us ready? Shavuot will be in just a few days. I am not ready. How can I lead a discussion?

The rabbi told a story about a tree and a man, Natan, who wanted to give the tree a present. What did he have to give? Ultimately, the man whose very name means gift, who didn’t have any material thing, gave a blessing.

The story reminded me of a colleague, who is a rabbi and a singer songwriter who loves the song Little Drummer Boy. The only gift the little boy has is his song. The only gift we have is a blessing. The blessing of a beautiful spring morning full of blues and greens. The blessing of light. Of Beauty. Of presence. Of song. The blessing of family. Of love. Of friendship. The blessing of being awake and alive.

I am truly blessed. And I am grateful. Maybe that is the insight. Maybe that is what I bring back from this trip. That these blessings are available to us, wherever we are, whenever we need them. As the Quakers say, I will hold them in the light.