So glad for Shabbat tonight.
Rest, relax, refresh, rejuvenate - soul, mind, and body.
It's what we work all week long for! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Soul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soul. Show all posts
August 13, 2021
June 22, 2021
Bicycle and Flowers
May 8, 2021
Shabbat: Time Vs. Space
When we choose to keep the Sabbath, we mark a day of the week in time, where we reject all the worldly pursuits of space and materialism in lieu of recognizing that there is a higher power, G-d Almighty, and that as Ahmari says 'everything else is ephemeral and passes away with time.'
What we do to make things holy in time rules over what we do purely physically in space, that nothing but G-d is timeless, and everything material reverts back to its origins and is gone from time as if it never even was. In the end, we need to live our lives with the forethought that the spirit goes to the everlasting afterlife, but the body goes to the physical grave.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 2, 2021
The Worst Leadership
I must see where my people are going, so that I can lead them.
These are leaders that are much more followers than any sort of leaders.
Or worse yet are leaders that lead people in the wrong (bad) direction.
In fact, these leaders "sin," but also they cause others to sin as well.
They are bad apples and serve as bad examples to others too!
A good leader is a shining example and mentor and these people are gems to find!
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 28, 2021
The Feeling of Shaming
April 13, 2021
Comfy Legs
Cross, uncross, cross.
Of course, the dress pants and shoes aren't so comfortable.
Do clothes really make the wo/man?
Here, there's no real clothes or should I say person to speak of.
Clothes is better than a fig leaf for Adam and Eve.
Much of clothing is just "look your best" and try to "feel good" vanity.
The soul is what really makes the person. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 11, 2021
Hmm, Different Is Necessary
One of these is that it's okay for us to be different; in fact, it's necessary!
We each have our own personality, experiences, and journey in life.
What works or is right for me in my life, may not work for you or be right in yours, and vice versa.
Celebrate the differences, because we are all here to learn and grow.
Let us each follow his/her own path as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.
Now that makes a lot more sense then everyone do it my way! ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 10, 2021
Without a Brain or Soul
A real skull, all hollowed out.
Sockets for the eyes, and a big hole where the nose goes.
The ears are gone too.
The skull is sawed open at the top, where the brain goes.
Not much left of the rotting teeth.
The soul is departed and is somewhere in the afterlife.
This should go a long way to humbling any human being.
What's outside really doesn't count for much, and what's inside is everything. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
February 4, 2021
Children (and Fruit) of G-d
Interesting quote I heard on diversity:
It might be apples and oranges, but it's all fruit!
The way towards mutual respect, teamwork, brotherhood, and peace:
- Recognize that our similarities are much greater than our differences.
And ultimately, we are all children (and fruit) of G-d. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 19, 2020
I Know He Exists
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, "I Know He Exists."
G-d, who is infinitely compassionate, did the most compassionate thing, which was to create us and give us the ability to be compassionate on others. The way we bring Hashem to reside with us is to transform the world (tikkun olam) “to make it a place that G-d can call home.” We do this by performing acts of loving kindness, making the mundane holy, and manifesting G-d’s divine providence. In essence, it’s not enough for us to know G-d exists, but we need to be a light unto the nations to reveal G-d’s unity, sanctity, and ongoing relationship with his creations to everyone in the world.
Like the story of the priest from the Holocaust, we don’t believe G-d exists, but rather, we know He exists. And when we perform our mission in this world by doing good deeds and manifesting G-d’s oneness and divine providence then we make this a place where G-d wants to reside with us in this world as well as in the world to come.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
December 6, 2020
Making Things Right When There Is Still Time
Over the years, I heard bits and pieces about him, including that he was ill, and I tried through my other friends to reach out to him. Somehow, it never worked, and more time wore on. Recently again, when another old friend lost their parent, I read something that reminded me that I still had unfinished business with my friend that I had hurt. So now was as good a time as any to reach out.
Somehow hurting someone never really goes away. Those feelings are sort of immortalized in time. The hurt is tangible and become concrete in the genetic fabric of our souls. My soul told me that it was time to try to correct for a mistake I made. You never know how much time is left, and it is important to try to make things right.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 29, 2020
Mastering Cheerfulness
During Covid-19, it is easy to get down about all the people getting sick (many dying) and for the rest of us the intense feelings of isolation. However, during this time (and particularly this week of Thanksgiving), I am learning the importance of staying positive and appreciating all G-d’s blessings that we do have. More broadly, I am coming to understand that inside a person, G-d exists amidst love, kindness and cheerfulness: these are elements that nourish the flame of our soul and wherein G-d happily coexists with us. It makes a lot of sense that when we are angry, jealous, or sad, the holy Shechinah (presence of G-d) cannot fully reside inside us. Because G-d Himself is gracious, kind, and loving and created us from this, so His spirit within us (our soul) flourishes amidst these feelings, but diminishes within us like a flame without oxygen when we distance ourselves emotionally and spiritually.
Just like one candlelight extinguishes the darkness around it, so also the light that we nurture within ourselves can extinguish the darkness that we occasionally feel inside.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
November 20, 2020
Modeh Ani - Thank you G-d
Beautiful song after the prayer, Modeh Ani that Jews say every morning immediately when we wake up.
I give thanks to You, living and eternal King for you have restored my soul within me with mercy; Your faithfulness is great.
Thank you G-d for everything you do for us.
Your mercy endures forever!
As Sholom Aleichem say: we should not know the taste of hunger. ;-)
(Credit Video: Omer Adam עומר אדם)
November 1, 2020
Tefillin: Our Wi-Fi To G-d
Tefillin are our antennas to Hashem!
And like an antenna, we are able to pray and have our signal amplified to G-d as well as be able to be imbued with G-d’s spirit and direction to us in life. With the Straps of the Tefillin as well as the boxes and knots, we spell out the letters of G-d’s name on our head and on our arm. Thus, we are not only wrapped in this “spiritual antenna,” but we literally wear G-d’s words on the parchment in the Tefillin boxes and with His holy name stamped on our centers of thought and feeling.
In short, Tefillin is opportunity for us to network over Wi-Fi with the Master of the Universe. It takes us out of the daily grind of looking at the world in selfish, shortsightedness of what’s in it for me today, and how can I get more gold and goodies than the next guy or girl. Inside all of us, we have a soul from G-d, and through our spiritual Wi-Fi connection, we can energize that part of ourselves with a good, strong signal straight to the Big Guy upstairs.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumethal)
October 24, 2020
The Elections: Perfecting Our Imperfections
Clearly, from the President on down to each and every one of us, we can be certain that none of us is perfect. However, G-d put us here, precisely, to have the opportunity to repair our imperfections. In this earthly world, our soul is tested, and we thereby have the opportunity to come out stronger and better because of it. The challenges in this world provide the "purification by fire" that our souls need to elevate themselves from past mistakes or imperfections. In essence, G-d in his ultimate benevolence — of love, kindness, and giving — bestows on us, His children, the chance to learn and grow and to realize our potential!
In short, while our elections leave us a lot to be desired in terms of the candidates for the highest office of this great land, we can see from the presidential candidates on down to the citizens of this country and to those around the world that there is both shortcomings and the potential for becoming the people that G-d knows we can really be.
(Credit Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)
September 11, 2020
Ghostbusters Mobile
Look what car I found today in Lancaster County.
The Ghostbusters Mobile.
The hood ornament is even a little ghost!
From the looks of the downtown, there very possibly could've been some ghosts around.
Life and death are just a hairbreadth away.
And when you die in one life, you pass over to the next. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 9, 2020
Finding Reality in a Floating Pink Abstract World
But when we return home to our Maker then we'll see beyond time and space what we could never see while we were enveloped in a physical body and a material world. For the spirit survives the life as our L-rd spans infinity and one day too we will rejoin with Him and discover what our eyes could never see and our ears did never hear.
For our heart was hardened of flesh while our soul was molten and deep until eventually we awake from our slumber and find what we always did seek.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 12, 2020
Anger, Faith, and Growth
We live in an unpredictable world and I have made more than one bad decision recently. Fortunately, it was nothing too terrible, but I was still angry about it, and my gut reaction was to somehow blame G-d, and to feel angry at Him, because I thought somehow I didn't deserve what had happened. However, I asked myself how can you be angry at G-d if you believe that everything he does is for your ultimate good? It took me a little time, but I realized that I wasn't really angry at G-d, but at myself; It was my fault, I did deserve what happened, and my mistakes aren't G-d's.
Maybe this is what life is really all about--searching and finding G-d even among all the multitude of mistakes we make in life. We have to own our mistakes, learn from them, and thereby become stronger and better people.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 3, 2020
We Impact Each Other's Souls
And I rarely write twice on a book or movie, but this was so impactful.
First on our souls, Sharansky writes:
The law of attraction, interconnection, and interdependence of human souls...there is a universal gravitational pull of souls, of the bond between them and influence of one soul on the other.
Wow, Sharansky understood the deeper meaning of the soul and how they all emanate and are pieces from G-d and they are all connected to their source and each other, and what one person says or does impacts all the others (and thereby G-d himself).
Literally, I experienced this the other day...when I personally made amends on something I felt that I had done wrong, and I could literally feel somehow righting a wrong in the universe and G-d, Himself, smiling down on me.
It was the best feeling I think I have ever had in my life.
Second on fear, Sharansky writes:
My inner freedom [is] more powerful than the external bondage...[and] fear of the L-rd...is a necessary prerequisite for man's achieving inner freedom, and is also the prerequisite for spiritual resolve, the fear of the L-rd is the only thing that can conquer human fear.
Wow again. Sharansky through his nine years of suffering and hardships in Soviet prisons and labor camps found his deep inner strength to resist the tyranny of the KGB worldly masters and overcame them with his finding his fear and faith in G-d and was able to overcome.
These are two amazing heavenly lessons that Sharansky shares with us from enduring and overcoming his incredible worldly hardships.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this and am with G-d's help continuing to quench my thirst for this type of wisdom and true enlightenment. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 1, 2020
Shabbat Shalom and Stay Healthy!
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