From Cantor Lee 

My sister and I had quite an adventure the other day! When she woke up in the morning ,my sister discovered an opossum which we later discovered was a female,  fast asleep on a chair in her screened in patio! The opossum had come in through the cat door during the night and decided that one of the cat’s favorite chairs would make a nice place to sleep! Of course the opossum was quite content but the cats wouldn’t come inside and the dogs couldn’t get to the backyard.  My sister opened  the patio door open hoping the opossum would eventually leave. We even sent  thought messages to her during the day that the door was open but eight hours later, the opossum was still there.

Of all days for Rabbi David to be gone! After googling opossums and finding out that the opossum would probably be more scared of us then we were of her, my sister and I devised a plan! We didn’t want to get too close so we decided to use brooms to push the chair with sleeping opossum on it to the door!  Hopefully she would wake up and leave. But halfway to the door, the opossum woke up and fell off the chair! She immediately played possum and pretended to be dead.

Now what!!  At that point I said, “is there a neighbor we can ask to help?” And lo and behold a neighbor across the street who just happened to be outside and who just happened to love opossums said of course he would help! Thank you universe! I love it when it all comes together! The neighbor put a towel on top of the opossum’s head, picked her up and carried her to his backyard. Later on his wife told me he wanted to bring the opossum into the house but she put her foot down! In the backyard, yes, in the house no!

In spiritual teachings when an animal crosses our path in an unusual way, we are being brought a message. So of course, I looked up the messages opossums bring in “Animal Speak” by Ted Andrews and learned that Opossums teach us how to use  appearances for our greatest benefit. For example sometimes the best course of action is to “play dead” and not respond to verbal attacks or rumors. In certain situations we  may need to appear to be fearless when inside we are terrified! The energy of opossums can help us see if others are being deceptive.  Hmmm…interesting and food for thought!

In further thinking I realized that the holiday of Purim,  only a week and a half away from the opossum adventure is also about appearances. We even dress up in costumes altering our appearances! In the story of Queen Ester much that is hidden is revealed! Okay, G-d, you have caught my attention!! I will definitely be paying attention to appearances for awhile!

So thank you  Opossum for bringing us your message. Please know I am also so grateful you are happy and safe in your new home in the neighbor’s backyard!! Hope your three babies are doing well! Yes, the neighbor told us they were hidden in your pouch. Seems this is truly a week of revelation!!