This evening I caught a firefly outside my parents’ home in suburban Chicago. I saw my first firefly of the season last Thursday, June 22nd, which is a bit early for the season, but I could not catch it. Tonight I finally caught one and watched it glow. This has been a midsummer fascination of mine since I was a child, and it continues to delight me.
I tried to get a photo of the flash (which I sort of did). The problem is that fireflies tend to glow less often when you hold them, and they try to climb to the high point of your hand to fly away, so you have to keep curling your fingers around of knocking them gently back into your palm.
I took a photo of the firefly with the iPhone Live function, which lets you capture images over a period of time. I happened to get my wedding ring in the frame — perfect. I then let the firefly in the photograph go, and I tried with another. It would not glow for me and I think I may have hurt it by knocking it too hard into my palm.
I felt quite sad about that. I’m not a child; I should have the self-control not to harm a firefly. I don’t want to be too dramatic about it, but I felt I had injured a symbol of love by trying to use it, trying to make it conform to my own imagination. Real love is like that, too: it’s fragile and you have to respect that, while also letting it be what you want it to be.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET (4-7 PT)
This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the shutdown
- John Carney - Breitbart News financial editor, on the upcoming jobs report
- Jerome Hudson - Breitbart News entertainment editor, on the Kimmel fallout
- Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on the UN and Gaza talks
- Matisyahu - award-winning reggae artist, on his new album, "Ancient Child"
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
