My Spirit Is Not Religious by Tina Sacchi

Author:Tina Sacchi
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781614483694
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing

Precious Earrings

My close friend Trudy was born and raised in the Jewish faith. We grew up together in Brooklyn. Trudy and I celebrated all of our holidays together. When it was time for the Christian holidays, such as St. Anthony’s Day, Easter, and Christmas, Trudy would join my family and me in our festivities. When the Jewish holidays came around, I would celebrate Passover and Rosh Hashanah with her and her family. She attended mass with me, and I went with her to services at her synagogue.

At Passover, we would keep Trudy’s front door open and set a place at the table for the prophet Elijah to come and visit, as is traditional during a Seder. This I found fascinating and so spiritual. I tried to sit next to Elijah’s chair at the table, in hopes of feeling his presence. I was open to new experiences, and Trudy’s family was open to having a gentile at their table. Likewise, when Trudy came to my family’s religious functions, we were open to having her join us in ceremony.

One day, Trudy called me up, frantic. “Tina! I lost my great-grandmother’s earrings at work. I’ve been all over this building, inside and out, and I can’t find them. I’ve taken every elevator that leads to my office, and still no earrings. I’ve even checked the lost and found, and they’re not there. My mother will kill me if she finds out, especially since she told me not to wear them. I need your help with St. Anthony, Tina. I remember that you found your lost bracelet a few years ago by praying to him. How do I ask him for help?”

In Catholicism, St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost objects. Catholics honor him with great respect and celebrate June 13, St. Anthony’s Day, with feasts around the world in his honor. I have enlisted his help many times, and Trudy was well aware of the respect I had for this special being, even though he died in the thirteenth century.

“Trudy,” I said calmly, “take a breath and relax. You need to create an intention, knowing that by praying to St. Anthony, you will find those earrings. Can you do that?”

“Yes, I’ll try,” she said.

“No! You can’t just try. You need to believe this is so, that St. Anthony can help you and that you will find your great-grandmother’s earrings. Can you do that?” I asked.

Trudy started laughing hysterically. “Why are you laughing?” I demanded.

“Because I am Jewish, and I believe in St. Anthony. It’s just so funny,” she said.

We both laughed at how ridiculous this would probably seem to other people. However, Trudy and I saw each other as equals, without the separation Jewish and Catholic religions can foster among their members. We honored each other’s spirits. And so we prayed to St. Anthony, asking him for guidance in retrieving these special earrings. And in return, Trudy promised that she would contribute to the St. Anthony group I belonged to so that others could be helped financially.

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