With gratitude to my beautiful daughter, Minna Blumenthal, for sharing this song by Idan Raichel with me.
Shabbat Shalom!
Showing posts with label Tears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tears. Show all posts
June 29, 2018
September 5, 2017
The Meaning Of Pain
I spoke with her this evening and she has grown into such a smart, mature, and good person.
We were talking about some hard times.
And she said to me so smartly (and I am so proud of her):
"The reason that we have pain is to avoid more pain."
Wow...think about that for a moment.
Everyone gets physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain in their lives.
Even little things like stubbing your toe, getting a small burn, or a paper cut--these things give you a instant or more of pain...but it jolts you into attention of what to avoid and to action how to protect yourself to prevent further and worse pain down the road.
A little pain now can fortunately save you a lot of pain later!
(Or in the gym they say, "No pain, no gain.")
My father used to say about difficult life lessons:
"Better to cry now than to cry later!"
He was right--bad situations generally don't get better with age.
Continuing the discussion with my lovely daughter tonight, she said to me:
"A person becomes better when they struggle. I've become better by struggling."
Again, like little pains, even larger struggles in life challenge us to learn, grow, and become better and stronger people.
I remember as a kid--when we went through those growth spurts--it would actually hurt a little--some muscle aches here and some cramps there--whew, a few inches taller already.
Growth hurts, but it's kind of a good hurt that only someone with the emotional intelligence to understand maturity and betterment can really grasp.
No, I'm not advocating for self-flagellation--just that we know when pain and struggle is a defining moment in life--like shaping and sharpening a great sword in fierce fire.
It's hot, but the heat is healing and necessary sometimes to grow as human and spiritual beings. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 7, 2016
January 6, 2016
Tears & Fears
All Opinions my own.
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal adapted from here with attribution to International Campaign To Abolish Nuclear Weapons)
July 5, 2014
Walking Off Into The Sunset
When we got home my wife titled it "Walking Off Into The Sunset."
We both cried when we saw it!
So full of meaning...
Two people, different, but hearts and hands together.
Walking into the future, not sure where it is going to take us.
Some day we'll be old, and we'll look back at all the times.
Hopefully, all for the good, but always trying to make the best.
We'll walk off into that sunset sometimes with tears, but always with joy.
(Source Photo: Michelle Blumenthal)
September 16, 2012
The Shofar: We Can All Improve
On Rosh Hashanah, we blow the Shofar (traditionally made from a ram's horn) in synagogue.
My sister-in-law, Sara Herbsman, told me a beautiful learning about the three types of blasts on the Shofar that correspond to 3 types of people that think they may be beyond repair, but who can still improve their lives:
1) Tekiah--tekiah means rooted and is one long blast--a person is never too stuck, stubborn, or set in their ways to change.
2) Shevarim--shevar means broken and the sound is 3 short broken blasts--that is a person is never to broken to fix.
3) Teruah--comes from the word Ra which means bad and is 9 rapid very short alarm blasts--that is a person is never too bad or evil to repent.
For those who have heard the Shofar blast, it is a moving experience--as if your very soul is stirred to introspection and fear of heaven.
I remember learning in Jewish Day School that our prayers would ascend to G-d in heaven on the blast of the Shofar.
But what I always like the best was the story of the one little boy in synagogue who did not know how to pray, but instead just cried--and his tears, full of sincerity, ascended beyond all the other prayers all the way to throne of the Almighty.
May G-d bless us with a happy, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful New Year.
Andy
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Elias Punch)
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