The remaining three burners began clicking and sparking and afraid of the fire hazard of the leaking gas,  my husband went in search of someone who could turn it off. Usually, there is a non-Jewish neighbor who we all go to that understands the nature of his mission and it’s completed within a couple of minutes.  Not so this time.  My husband was gone for at least a half hour, which felt like forever and I did my best to entertain our guests.  Finally, I spied him through our living room window walking  with a woman who was following him in a slow and stilted gait.   They came in and my husband introduced us to Glenny,  who immediately realized what to do.  We all breathed a sigh of relief as this somewhat awkward situation diffused (pun intended)  and we could at long last begin our seudah.  I thanked Glenny enthusiastically and offered her a mezonos or something in return for her kindness.  She looked into my eyes and said, “you don’t have to do that.  I can do a kindness.

 G-d is kind and that’s what we do!”  I agreed with her and said that I too need to be kind and convinced her to take the chocolate tops for her and her mother.  I offered to walk her back as I saw that she needed help, and as she said her mother wanted her to walk with someone.  My husband took my place at the table to the relief of my friend’s husband and I made the return trip with Glenny.  The walk should have taken no more than 5 minutes, however with her pace of walking, it took closer to at least 15 minutes.  In that time, I discovered the reason for that as I also heard the Yamim Noramim message Hashem destined for me  to hear.  My husband heard this as well  on the way back to our home, and of course we  shared it with our company.

Glenny  told me how once when  she was driving her own car she was hit by another. The accident was so bad that she was found literally crumpled between the driver’s seat and the front door.   Every bone in her body was broken. Some organs needed to be removed. She explained how she had metal rods and screws in her neck. Glenny experienced a traumatic brain injury and showed me the pictures of  herself  in the hospital wearing a full body brace, appearing to be in a coma or heavily sedated. It was an astounding picture to see. To hear her miraculous story of survival and then  to see her standing upright, with all her limbs moving,  and engage in intellectual conversation  was incredible.  This accident happened a number of years ago, and Glenny is now  in her upper 40s and still going for rehab.  Glenny embodies not just a walking Nes but is a living breathing mussar haskel to appreciate the gifts of physical functioning we take for granted.    Her words were peppered with messages of  how G-d gave her another chance and how grateful she was for it.    She changed her former ways of drinking and partying to seeing His goodness and living life with meaning.  She relayed this with a  serenity that was buoyed by  confidence and quiet strength.  Glenny has these crystal-clear green eyes  that glow out from her small face, hovering above her gracious smile. It was a pleasure speaking with her and listening to her spirit.  I felt as if we were looking into each other’s hearts as well. We continued to engage in this insightful religious discussion of how everyone needs to be G-d fearing and repent; this is for all of mankind!  I shared with Glenny that soon it would be our Jewish New Year and that our discussion was most apropos for this time of year.  She smiled again, which she did often in our short time together.  As we approached her mother’s house, she told me that her mother was the one who answered  her own  questions about why she was still alive after this terrible accident and  having to endure a traumatic brain injury.  Her mother expressed to her that it  was because Glenny needed to do something good with her life and G-d had  given her this chance to do so.  I walked her to the door and met her waiting mother Geraldine, with dog in tow. After heaping Glenny’s praises to Geraldine, I  thanked them both for helping my family and for meeting such  wonderful people.  Wishing them a happy and Healthy new year, and a shout  to enjoy the cookies with milk (!), I quickly went back home to my waiting and hungry and patient Shabbos guests, who I hope will come again!  A preschool song I grew up with, “Oh, who are the people in your Neighborhood,”  popped into my head, and I smiled with nostalgia.  More importantly, and essentially to our lives is the thought that Harbei Shluchim LaMakom, Hashem has many messengers.  Our oven may have clicked and sparked, but it was Glenny who was given the task of charging the fire of Hisorerus for our Souls. 

A Shabbos Shuva Derasha indeed.

L’iluy Nishmas my mother’s stepfather, who raised her, whose yahrtzeit is on Yom Kippur 

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