Today I find myself in awe of everything around me. G-d is everywhere! He’s in the wind and the snow, the rocks and the water, the blue of the sky and the white mist of the clouds. He’s in the smile I received from neighbors as I drove up the road. He’s in the affection and love my husband shows me every day. Even now, as I sit here, Indian Style, with my laptop in front of me, I see him in the little bundle of orange fur (affectionately known as Taffy) that is showing her contentment by purring as loud as she can and looking up at me with her “cat smile”. And all I can think is I am so blessed! I have spoken of faith in G-d and of His never ending unconditional love but now I want to talk about all these blessings that He has poured down on us.
Life is so crazy sometimes. I, myself, have begun trying to find a way to add more hours to the day. Between work, family, Shul, friends, extracurricular activities, and a blog that is taking off in a way that J and I never even imagined, I feel like I am going nonstop. I think I can safely assume many of you feel the same way. Now, putting aside all the demands of life, you throw in the worries, trials, and unexpected situations. That is an over flowing cup right there! Now do something for me, stop reading for a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath and look at everything you have going on (without getting worked up or overwhelmed preferably) and then instead of thinking about how much you have to do, think about how much you have been blessed with. When life kicks into over drive, I see so much is over looked because all we can think is “Go! Go! Go! Go!” The job that you are trying to keep up with, consider how many people are struggling because they don’t have one...BLESSING! The running your doing to get your kids to school and dance class on time, consider what an incredible part of your life they are and how it wouldn’t be the same without them....BLESSING! Having to run home and let the dog out or clean out the litter box every day, hasn’t that pet given you so much love and warmth by being in your life...BLESSING! The house you live in isn’t the dream house you saw yourself in or you could use more space, consider how many people have lost their homes and consider how many of those people couldn’t find a new roof to keep over their heads....BLESSING! Must I go on?
The inspiration to write this blog came from a talk J and I were having this morning and you were all the subject of it. Do you all realize that you are incredible blessings to us? It’s a daily thing now for us to sit down together and go through the blog. It’s exciting to open it and see more followers as well as read the comments that people leave. As I said, we never expected it to take off the way it has in such a short amount of time. But none of that would have been possible if it weren’t for all of you. We have written all the words that are posted so far but if not for people taking the time to read and open your hearts to all of this as well as pass it on, it would only be J and I sitting and talking to each other. So this morning as we sat reading and talking; it became so obvious to me the way we are being blessed. And it goes further than the blog; in life in general.
In these difficult economic times, it’s easy to get caught up in the “Why G-ds” and the “What ifs”. It’s so easy to get caught up in the frustrations and worries and forget about the good things you have. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to down play that people are suffering. There is so much to be done to help the US pull itself back together. But in all the chaos, try and remember what you still have. We have some friends who have traveled to Haiti to help in the relief effort (one of whom is going to write a blog about it and allow us to post it on here). And things are so horrible there. People have literally watched their lives crumble around them. And while J and I are facing our own struggles at the moment, it almost makes them seem insignificant to me when I am told about the way things are there. And for some of the families out there, I am willing to bet that while things are horrible, you will find some parents saying they are thankful to still be alive and with their children. Like everything in life, this is a struggle, a trial. But G-d is still present and G-d is still passing out His blessings.
What I am ultimately trying to say is life definitely comes with its low points. And none of this is a question of who is worse off than whom. That is neither here nor there right now. When you are having a sleepless night due to worries about money or work or family or what-have-you, at least try and take a moment to consider what you do still have and be thankful for it. Happiness is not found in the material things in life. It’s found in contentment in the here and now. Improving yourself and striving for more is fantastic and I encourage it. But when that is the only way you define yourself, when will you ever be truly happy because what you have will never be enough. Think about it and have a wonderful day.
G-d Bless.
K
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Rock Bottom Looking Up
Life certainly finds a way to keep us on our toes at the best and worst of times doesn’t it? This life we have, this time here on earth, it’s borrowed time. It’s time that G-d granted us. Time meant to be spent growing, learning, sharing, and serving. It’s time spent finding ourselves, finding G-d, and fulfilling the purpose He has in mind for us. Filled with ups and down as well as insides, outsides, crisscrosses, and diagonals. At no point did G-d say that life here on Earth would be easy. In fact, He actually tells us to expect trials all through our lives. And trials we get! I could write at least 20 or 30 blogs just on the life lessons I have come across. Tonight, I want to talk about what it’s like to hit rock bottom and what it’s like to realize that G-d is right there to pick you up.
I won’t bore you all with details but I will say that I have hit my own personal lowest point twice in my life. Rock bottom isn’t a fun place. You never know how lost you can feel till you hit that point. And to be honest, I believe that is one of the places that you become most vulnerable to the devil. Goodness knows he loves nothing more than kicking us when we are down. Interestingly, hitting rock bottom was exactly where I needed to be at those times. I don’t think G-d sat in heaven thinking, “I’ll make all this stuff happen so I can finally get through to her.” Not at all! I believe He was thinking, “OK…She’s going to make some very bad decisions and she’s going to find herself in a very difficult situation. How can I help her see this through and what can I help her learn from it.” Our G-d is a merciful, wise, incredible G-d and no matter how out of control things feel, He’s always completely on top of things. The first time I was seriously struggling, I started finding my voice. I started finding myself a little bit. Not completely though, that would come with the second falling…so to speak. The second time I hit rock bottom the only thing I felt I had left to hang on to was G-d. For the first time in my life, I was completely and totally open to Him because I knew there was no way out aside from Him. The day I surrendered completely to His will, was the day I began to wake up. It was the day that the sun came out. It was the day that I started seeing G-d for who He really was. I have always had religion around me. But I don’t think I even really let Him in till then. That’s when I started to grow. That when J and I started becoming more focused on what the future could hold for us. And what we could do in His name.
My point is, I don’t know many of the people that read these blogs. I don’t know what they are dealing with. What I do know is that we all face different situations, we learn different lessons, we make different choices, and we go in different directions. Sometimes those directions take us to a place where know we shouldn’t be. Whether it be a habit, a chain reaction, a relationship…the list goes one. In all the mistakes I have made, I spent several years of my life feeling like G-d had every reason to turn His back on me. Had he been human, I don’t think anyone would have blamed Him at all. But He never did. As much as I tried to ignore or hide, His kind, sweet, subtle voice was there reminding me of the love and forgiveness waiting for me when all was said and done. Some of you may be in a very happy place, while other may be struggling at the moment. A few things I would like you to remember…
1) When G-d feels distant, it’s not because He’s distancing Himself from you, it’s because you are distancing yourself from Him. He promises over and over to never leave or forsake us. If you quiet yourself and listen, you will hear His voice calling you and you will feel His arms trying to wrap around you. His love knows no bounds, His love is unconditional, and His love is forever.
2) There is NOTHING you can do to make Him look the other way. All those people that we consider to be the most horrible…the evil leaders, the murderers, the rapists, the liars…G-d loves them too. He doesn’t agree with what they have done and all will be held accountable for their actions, but He still looks on them with love. Just as He does with any of us.
3) The moment we are ready to talk, He’s listening. There have been times in the past that I didn’t even want to speak to Him. But eventually I had too, and when I did, I spoke, I cried, I told Him everything in my heart (even though he already knew). And you have no idea the relief and warmth that will come over you. Because, as it is now and will always be, He’s ready to love and comfort you through anything trial you are facing. All you have to do is choose to let Him.
4) Never forget that others are struggling too. G-d uses us all in different ways. And that includes comforting and communicating love and compassion to others who are in need of it. It can be so easy to get wrapped up in our own lives and our own issues. And while we do need to take care of ourselves, never forget that there could be someone else nearby that simply needs a hug or kind word…sometimes we just need to hear that someone is there and thinking of us. Sometimes something as simple as that can remind them of G-d’s presence.
So with that I would like to leave you with comfort, love, and hope. We will continue to pray for all that come across our words and for all who are yet to come. G-d is with you right now; loving you. His Love is after all...unstoppable. Let’s take a moment and thank Him for that.
Here's a link to a song that I want to include with this Blog. Copy, Paste, and enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=WhwMIi2NOfA&v=aBlKYBZIviA
G-d Bless,
K
I won’t bore you all with details but I will say that I have hit my own personal lowest point twice in my life. Rock bottom isn’t a fun place. You never know how lost you can feel till you hit that point. And to be honest, I believe that is one of the places that you become most vulnerable to the devil. Goodness knows he loves nothing more than kicking us when we are down. Interestingly, hitting rock bottom was exactly where I needed to be at those times. I don’t think G-d sat in heaven thinking, “I’ll make all this stuff happen so I can finally get through to her.” Not at all! I believe He was thinking, “OK…She’s going to make some very bad decisions and she’s going to find herself in a very difficult situation. How can I help her see this through and what can I help her learn from it.” Our G-d is a merciful, wise, incredible G-d and no matter how out of control things feel, He’s always completely on top of things. The first time I was seriously struggling, I started finding my voice. I started finding myself a little bit. Not completely though, that would come with the second falling…so to speak. The second time I hit rock bottom the only thing I felt I had left to hang on to was G-d. For the first time in my life, I was completely and totally open to Him because I knew there was no way out aside from Him. The day I surrendered completely to His will, was the day I began to wake up. It was the day that the sun came out. It was the day that I started seeing G-d for who He really was. I have always had religion around me. But I don’t think I even really let Him in till then. That’s when I started to grow. That when J and I started becoming more focused on what the future could hold for us. And what we could do in His name.
My point is, I don’t know many of the people that read these blogs. I don’t know what they are dealing with. What I do know is that we all face different situations, we learn different lessons, we make different choices, and we go in different directions. Sometimes those directions take us to a place where know we shouldn’t be. Whether it be a habit, a chain reaction, a relationship…the list goes one. In all the mistakes I have made, I spent several years of my life feeling like G-d had every reason to turn His back on me. Had he been human, I don’t think anyone would have blamed Him at all. But He never did. As much as I tried to ignore or hide, His kind, sweet, subtle voice was there reminding me of the love and forgiveness waiting for me when all was said and done. Some of you may be in a very happy place, while other may be struggling at the moment. A few things I would like you to remember…
1) When G-d feels distant, it’s not because He’s distancing Himself from you, it’s because you are distancing yourself from Him. He promises over and over to never leave or forsake us. If you quiet yourself and listen, you will hear His voice calling you and you will feel His arms trying to wrap around you. His love knows no bounds, His love is unconditional, and His love is forever.
2) There is NOTHING you can do to make Him look the other way. All those people that we consider to be the most horrible…the evil leaders, the murderers, the rapists, the liars…G-d loves them too. He doesn’t agree with what they have done and all will be held accountable for their actions, but He still looks on them with love. Just as He does with any of us.
3) The moment we are ready to talk, He’s listening. There have been times in the past that I didn’t even want to speak to Him. But eventually I had too, and when I did, I spoke, I cried, I told Him everything in my heart (even though he already knew). And you have no idea the relief and warmth that will come over you. Because, as it is now and will always be, He’s ready to love and comfort you through anything trial you are facing. All you have to do is choose to let Him.
4) Never forget that others are struggling too. G-d uses us all in different ways. And that includes comforting and communicating love and compassion to others who are in need of it. It can be so easy to get wrapped up in our own lives and our own issues. And while we do need to take care of ourselves, never forget that there could be someone else nearby that simply needs a hug or kind word…sometimes we just need to hear that someone is there and thinking of us. Sometimes something as simple as that can remind them of G-d’s presence.
So with that I would like to leave you with comfort, love, and hope. We will continue to pray for all that come across our words and for all who are yet to come. G-d is with you right now; loving you. His Love is after all...unstoppable. Let’s take a moment and thank Him for that.
Here's a link to a song that I want to include with this Blog. Copy, Paste, and enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch#playnext=1&playnext_from=TL&videos=WhwMIi2NOfA&v=aBlKYBZIviA
G-d Bless,
K
Thoughts...
Many of your thoughts are like a tree rooted deep in the soil of tradition & whose branches grow in the power of continuity. My thoughts consist of dreams & imagination, like clouds always shifting in the sky. Many of your thoughts are like a fortress that neither gale nor the lightning can shake. My thoughts are like a tender leaf that sways in every direction & finds pleasure in its swaying. Many of your thoughts are like an ancient dogma that cannot change you nor can you change it. My thoughts are always new, & they test me & I test them day & night.
G-d gave us the power to say yes or no, to dream or not to dream, to imagine or not to imagine. Many people are born into certain traditions, faiths, etc. & they never go beyond that. Many people have the attitude of, “You have your thoughts & I have mine”.
Many of your thoughts allow you to believe in the unequal contest of the strong against the weak, and in the tricking of the simple by the subtle ones. My thoughts create within me a humbleness towards others. Many people’s thoughts urge them to marry into wealth & status. Mine commends self-reliance. Many advocate fame & fortune. Mine counsels me & implores me to cast aside notoriety and treat it like a grain of sand cast upon the shore of eternity. Many thoughts instill in your heart arrogance & superiority. Mine plants within me love for peace & the desire for freedom from all that is worldly.
Many of your thoughts are social science, a religious & political dictionary. Mine is a simple axiom. Many of your thoughts speak of the beautiful woman, the ugly, the virtuous, the prostitute, the intelligent, & the stupid. Mine sees in every woman a mother, a sister, or a daughter of every man. Many of your thoughts describe laws, courts, judges, punishments. Mine explains that when man makes a law, he either violates it or obeys it. If there is a basic law, we are all one before it. He who disdains the mean is himself mean. He who vents his scorn of the sinful vents his disdain of all humanity. Many of your thoughts concern the skilled, the artist, the intellectual, the philosopher, the religious leader. Mine speaks of the loving & the affectionate, the sincere, the honest, the forthright, the kindly, & the martyr. Many of our thoughts advocate Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Lately my thought is that there should be only one universal religion, whose varied paths would be but the fingers of the loving hand of our Father G-d. Many of your thoughts are of the rich, the poor, & the beggared. My thought holds that there are no riches but life; that we are all beggars, & no benefactor exists save G-d Himself the giver of life.
According to many thoughts, the greatness of nations lies in their politics, their parties, their conferences, their alliances & treaties. But mine proclaims that the importance of nations lies in work - work in the fields, work in the vineyards, work in the timber yard, work in the office and so forth. Many think that the glory of their nations is in their heroes. They sing the praises of Ramses, Alexander, Caesar, Hannibal, Napoleon & all the modern day ‘heroes’. But mine claims that the real hero is G-d the Creator of all living things. Many see power in armies, cannons, battleships, submarines, aircraft, & poison gas. But mine asserts that power lies in reason, resolution, truth & G-d. No matter how long the tyrant endures, he will be the loser at the end. Most people’s thoughts differentiate between pragmatist & idealist, between the part & the whole, between the mystic & materialist. Mine realizes that life is one & its weights, measures & tables do not coincide with the weights, measures & tables of the world. He whom you suppose an idealist may be but a practical man created in the image of G-d.
G-d Bless.
J
G-d gave us the power to say yes or no, to dream or not to dream, to imagine or not to imagine. Many people are born into certain traditions, faiths, etc. & they never go beyond that. Many people have the attitude of, “You have your thoughts & I have mine”.
Many of your thoughts allow you to believe in the unequal contest of the strong against the weak, and in the tricking of the simple by the subtle ones. My thoughts create within me a humbleness towards others. Many people’s thoughts urge them to marry into wealth & status. Mine commends self-reliance. Many advocate fame & fortune. Mine counsels me & implores me to cast aside notoriety and treat it like a grain of sand cast upon the shore of eternity. Many thoughts instill in your heart arrogance & superiority. Mine plants within me love for peace & the desire for freedom from all that is worldly.
Many of your thoughts are social science, a religious & political dictionary. Mine is a simple axiom. Many of your thoughts speak of the beautiful woman, the ugly, the virtuous, the prostitute, the intelligent, & the stupid. Mine sees in every woman a mother, a sister, or a daughter of every man. Many of your thoughts describe laws, courts, judges, punishments. Mine explains that when man makes a law, he either violates it or obeys it. If there is a basic law, we are all one before it. He who disdains the mean is himself mean. He who vents his scorn of the sinful vents his disdain of all humanity. Many of your thoughts concern the skilled, the artist, the intellectual, the philosopher, the religious leader. Mine speaks of the loving & the affectionate, the sincere, the honest, the forthright, the kindly, & the martyr. Many of our thoughts advocate Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Lately my thought is that there should be only one universal religion, whose varied paths would be but the fingers of the loving hand of our Father G-d. Many of your thoughts are of the rich, the poor, & the beggared. My thought holds that there are no riches but life; that we are all beggars, & no benefactor exists save G-d Himself the giver of life.
According to many thoughts, the greatness of nations lies in their politics, their parties, their conferences, their alliances & treaties. But mine proclaims that the importance of nations lies in work - work in the fields, work in the vineyards, work in the timber yard, work in the office and so forth. Many think that the glory of their nations is in their heroes. They sing the praises of Ramses, Alexander, Caesar, Hannibal, Napoleon & all the modern day ‘heroes’. But mine claims that the real hero is G-d the Creator of all living things. Many see power in armies, cannons, battleships, submarines, aircraft, & poison gas. But mine asserts that power lies in reason, resolution, truth & G-d. No matter how long the tyrant endures, he will be the loser at the end. Most people’s thoughts differentiate between pragmatist & idealist, between the part & the whole, between the mystic & materialist. Mine realizes that life is one & its weights, measures & tables do not coincide with the weights, measures & tables of the world. He whom you suppose an idealist may be but a practical man created in the image of G-d.
G-d Bless.
J
Friday, February 19, 2010
Just a note to all of you.
Hello/Shalom and G-d Bless!
We would like to first take a moment to thank you all for the overwhelming responses we have gotten through this blog. We have been praying for G-d's blessing and blessed we have been! We are honored and inspired by all you have had to say. Thank you so very much.
One thing that has been requested more than once is some kind of notification when new material is posted. There is an option on here but it's limited to only 10 people. So we came up with a "Plan B". We have an email address specifically set up for this site. thegsight@yahoo.com If you would like to be added to our address book, please forward your email address to ours and when we do postings, we will do a mass email letting everyone on the mailing list know. If we personally know you and have access to your email address, we will automatically add you.
Again, we thank you for the support and encourage you to continue to spread the word. Our dream is for this blog to only be the starting point. The blog was just to see how this all can grow. We are set up to appear on search engines but at the moment, we are best relying on word of mouth and lots of prayer.
Our daily prayers include lots of love and blessings to you all. Have a wonderful weekend, a fantastic week, and Shabbat Shalom to our fellow Jews. G-d Bless you all!
J and K
We would like to first take a moment to thank you all for the overwhelming responses we have gotten through this blog. We have been praying for G-d's blessing and blessed we have been! We are honored and inspired by all you have had to say. Thank you so very much.
One thing that has been requested more than once is some kind of notification when new material is posted. There is an option on here but it's limited to only 10 people. So we came up with a "Plan B". We have an email address specifically set up for this site. thegsight@yahoo.com If you would like to be added to our address book, please forward your email address to ours and when we do postings, we will do a mass email letting everyone on the mailing list know. If we personally know you and have access to your email address, we will automatically add you.
Again, we thank you for the support and encourage you to continue to spread the word. Our dream is for this blog to only be the starting point. The blog was just to see how this all can grow. We are set up to appear on search engines but at the moment, we are best relying on word of mouth and lots of prayer.
Our daily prayers include lots of love and blessings to you all. Have a wonderful weekend, a fantastic week, and Shabbat Shalom to our fellow Jews. G-d Bless you all!
J and K
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Beauty and the Need for Equailty
We owe our being to our Creator, G-d our Father. His existence can be seen in the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our world.
The crack and the rumble of the summer thunders, lashed by startling lightening and the fragrances of nature have been as pleasant to me as the sight of the wild blooms.
The dramatic shapes of the mountains, the different colored waters of the Oceans and the sands of the deserts, are all panels of the set on a natural stage created by G-d to remind us just how great and mighty He is.
At times, and in fear, I have sat in awe of His presence just watching His beauty all around me; just watching a leopard or a lion, the elephant, the hyena, the birds in the sky and the whales in the surf have taught me so much about our Father and His love for us.
A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our world thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say - I am a child of G-d.!
I owe my being, to my grandfather, a survivor of the holocaust, who left Germany to find a new home on the beautiful continent of Africa. Whatever their own actions, they remain still, part of me. Their proud dignity informs my bearing, their culture a part of my essence. The tattoo’s they bore on their bodies from the concentration camps are a reminder embossed on my consciousness of what should not be done; of what G-d would not have wanted to be done.
I often keep an audible silence about these ancestors of the generations that live, fearful to admit the horror of former deeds, seeking to obliterate from my memories a cruel occurrence which, in its remembering, should teach us not and never to allow such inhumaneness again.
I was taught never to dishonor the cause of freedom; that G-d gave the world to all people and that there is not one man that is better than another.
My father taught me that we could both be at home and be foreign; he also taught me that human existence itself demanded that freedom was a necessary condition for human existence; because the world was given to us all by G-d and thus belongs to everyone.
Being part of all of this, and in the knowledge that none dare contest that assertion, I shall again claim that - I am a child of G-d and so are all people.
I have and am seeing what happens when one person has superiority of force over another, when the stronger appropriate to themselves the prerogative even to annul the injunction that G-d created all men and women in His image. There are so many who believe they are more powerful than G-d.
I know what it signifies when race and colour are used to determine who is human and who is sub-human. It has been happening in Africa since before I was born and still continues.
I have seen the destruction of all sense of self-esteem, the consequent striving to be what one is not, simply to acquire some of the benefits which those who had improved themselves as masters had ensured that they enjoy.
I know of the situation in which race and colour is used to enrich some and impoverish the rest.
I see the corruption of minds and souls as part of the pursuit of an ignoble effort to perpetrate a veritable crime against humanity.
I have seen concrete expression of the denial of the dignity of a human being emanating from the conscious, systemic and systematic oppressive and repressive activities of other human beings.
There the victims parade with no mask to hide the brutish reality - the beggars, the prostitutes, the street children, those who seek solace in substance abuse, those who have to steal to alleviate hunger, those who have to lose their sanity because to be sane is to invite pain. Perhaps the worst among these are the children who have learnt to kill for a wage. To these the extent of death is directly proportional to their personal welfare.
We ask G-d to create a movement in this world in which all people can be free from fear, including the fear of the oppression of one group by another, the fear of the disempowerment of one social echelon by another, the fear of the use of state power to deny anybody their fundamental human rights and the fear of tyranny.
The aim being that all people can assume their place in the world as equals with their fellow human beings without regard to colour, race, gender, age or geographic dispersal. One G-d, one people.
We need to find resolution for conflicts by peaceful means rather than resort to force.
We need to rejoice in the diversity of all people thus creating the space for all of us to define ourselves as one people.
We need to be proud of our achievements, proud without reservation and proud without any feeling of conceit; but we need to be humble too. All people are prone to pettiness, petulance, selfishness and short-sightedness; but we can strive to be better, strive to be as He would want us to be. Glory must be sort after. Glory for G-d and His beautiful world.
We need to draw on the accumulated experience and wisdom of all humankind, of our forefathers, to define for ourselves, what we want to be and how G-d would want us to be.
G-d Bless,
J
The crack and the rumble of the summer thunders, lashed by startling lightening and the fragrances of nature have been as pleasant to me as the sight of the wild blooms.
The dramatic shapes of the mountains, the different colored waters of the Oceans and the sands of the deserts, are all panels of the set on a natural stage created by G-d to remind us just how great and mighty He is.
At times, and in fear, I have sat in awe of His presence just watching His beauty all around me; just watching a leopard or a lion, the elephant, the hyena, the birds in the sky and the whales in the surf have taught me so much about our Father and His love for us.
A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our world thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say - I am a child of G-d.!
I owe my being, to my grandfather, a survivor of the holocaust, who left Germany to find a new home on the beautiful continent of Africa. Whatever their own actions, they remain still, part of me. Their proud dignity informs my bearing, their culture a part of my essence. The tattoo’s they bore on their bodies from the concentration camps are a reminder embossed on my consciousness of what should not be done; of what G-d would not have wanted to be done.
I often keep an audible silence about these ancestors of the generations that live, fearful to admit the horror of former deeds, seeking to obliterate from my memories a cruel occurrence which, in its remembering, should teach us not and never to allow such inhumaneness again.
I was taught never to dishonor the cause of freedom; that G-d gave the world to all people and that there is not one man that is better than another.
My father taught me that we could both be at home and be foreign; he also taught me that human existence itself demanded that freedom was a necessary condition for human existence; because the world was given to us all by G-d and thus belongs to everyone.
Being part of all of this, and in the knowledge that none dare contest that assertion, I shall again claim that - I am a child of G-d and so are all people.
I have and am seeing what happens when one person has superiority of force over another, when the stronger appropriate to themselves the prerogative even to annul the injunction that G-d created all men and women in His image. There are so many who believe they are more powerful than G-d.
I know what it signifies when race and colour are used to determine who is human and who is sub-human. It has been happening in Africa since before I was born and still continues.
I have seen the destruction of all sense of self-esteem, the consequent striving to be what one is not, simply to acquire some of the benefits which those who had improved themselves as masters had ensured that they enjoy.
I know of the situation in which race and colour is used to enrich some and impoverish the rest.
I see the corruption of minds and souls as part of the pursuit of an ignoble effort to perpetrate a veritable crime against humanity.
I have seen concrete expression of the denial of the dignity of a human being emanating from the conscious, systemic and systematic oppressive and repressive activities of other human beings.
There the victims parade with no mask to hide the brutish reality - the beggars, the prostitutes, the street children, those who seek solace in substance abuse, those who have to steal to alleviate hunger, those who have to lose their sanity because to be sane is to invite pain. Perhaps the worst among these are the children who have learnt to kill for a wage. To these the extent of death is directly proportional to their personal welfare.
We ask G-d to create a movement in this world in which all people can be free from fear, including the fear of the oppression of one group by another, the fear of the disempowerment of one social echelon by another, the fear of the use of state power to deny anybody their fundamental human rights and the fear of tyranny.
The aim being that all people can assume their place in the world as equals with their fellow human beings without regard to colour, race, gender, age or geographic dispersal. One G-d, one people.
We need to find resolution for conflicts by peaceful means rather than resort to force.
We need to rejoice in the diversity of all people thus creating the space for all of us to define ourselves as one people.
We need to be proud of our achievements, proud without reservation and proud without any feeling of conceit; but we need to be humble too. All people are prone to pettiness, petulance, selfishness and short-sightedness; but we can strive to be better, strive to be as He would want us to be. Glory must be sort after. Glory for G-d and His beautiful world.
We need to draw on the accumulated experience and wisdom of all humankind, of our forefathers, to define for ourselves, what we want to be and how G-d would want us to be.
G-d Bless,
J
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Earthly Angels....
When I say the word Angel, what do you think of? A big beautiful winged being? A little cherub? Pure, perfect light maybe? There’s plenty of possibilities. A while ago I actually asked that question of several people I know and the response that most came up with was that Angels are heavenly beings but can also be people here on earth. I agree with them 100% and came across a story that a man posted online to inspire people to be “Earthly Angels”.
I was driving home from a meeting this evening at about five, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and my car started to choke, sputter, and die. I barely managed to coast (cursing) into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn’t even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the “quickie mart” building and it looked like she had perhaps slipped on some ice and fell, so I got out seeing if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs and fallen. She was a young woman who looked really hazard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, I picked it up to give it to her...it was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient suburban crammed full of stuff with three kids in the back (one in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she kept saying, “I don’t want my kids to see me crying.” So we stood on the other side of the pump from the car. She said she was driving to California and things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, “And you were praying?” That made her back away from me a little, but I assured I was not a crazy person and said, “He heard you, and He sent me.”
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was filling, walked next door to a McDonald’s and bought two big bags of food, some gift certificates for more and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left two months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn’t have money to pay rent January first and finally in desperation, called her parents with whom she had not spoken to in about five years. They lived in California and they said she could come live with them and try and get on her feet there.
So she packed everything that she owned in her car and told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves and a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my own car, she said, “So are you like an angel or something?”
This definitely made me cry. I said, “Sweetie, at this time of year Angels are really busy, so sometimes, G-d uses regular people.”
It was incredible to be a part of someone else’s divine intervention. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car; it started right away and got me home with no problems. I’ll put it in the shop tomorrow but I have a feeling they will find nothing wrong with it.
I have read and reread that story so many times since I came across it months ago. And still, every time, it brings tears to my eyes. I started out by mentioning Angels and while I do believe heavenly Angels are very real and do walk amongst us, I believe G-d instills in us, the ability to be Angels here on earth. I have heard so many people say, “What can I do? I am only one person.” “Things and people never change.” Truth be told, I have been one of those people. When you look at the mess that the world is in, it’s so easy to feel so small and incapable of change. But people don’t always seem to realize that it’s not always the big acts of change, sometimes it’s the small things. Like buying a struggling stranger some food and gas. Giving up your seat on the bus to someone that needs it more. My last blog talked about having faith and knowing that G-d has a plan and can see what will come. Did you even consider that a simple act of kindness could inspire others to do the same? When that man showed kindness to that woman, he could have been inspiring her or even one of her kids to someday do something bigger and better. Or maybe the simple act of writing down his experience is going to inspire the people that G-d is trying to reach out to right now to get up and do something. I believe that yes, humans are sinful by nature, BUT I also believe that human have good in them as well. Before sin came into the picture, we started out as good, G-dly beings. But G-d equipped us with the ability to make choices. It was the only way He could truly ask us to have faith in Him. I believe we ALL have good in our hearts. Some are just better at pushing the voice of G-d aside and choosing a different path. The evil that is destroying our world is not of G-d...it’s the work of the devil. He takes the very thing that we use to have faith in G-d and he uses it to cause as much chaos as possible. But just as we have a choice to listen to G-d, we have a choice in listening to the devil! The devil would love nothing more than to ruin would-be “Earthly Angels” and not allow G-d’s love and grace to spread. But we can put a stop to him! We can fight back! We can choose to love the way G-d asks us to. We can choose to show at least one kind act everyday...even if it’s as simple as opening a door or giving a kind smile to a stranger! Not every incredible earth changing events start with something or someone huge...sometimes they are small and simple things that a willing Earthly Angel did and that started a chain reaction that just grew and grew. Think about it people! The things we do and say everyday...things we may not even think twice about doing, could change something in the life of another person. I don’t know about you but that is very inspiring to me! Exciting even! So I leave you with a challenge. Keep a wide open eye on yourself and everything around you. Keep a smile on your face because that can inspire people to be more positive and have a better day. Be courteous to everyone you come across, cause that could inspire them to do the same. And most of all...never ever underestimate yourself. Because while I absolutely believe the small things count...G-d still places people on this earth that are capable of doing the big things as well. I don’t know that writing these blogs is earth shattering, but a few years ago, I would have never believed I had it in me. G-d can use us all in ways we can’t even imagine...but only if we choose to let Him. So maybe today is the day you will choose to step up.
G-d Bless!
K
I was driving home from a meeting this evening at about five, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and my car started to choke, sputter, and die. I barely managed to coast (cursing) into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn’t even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the “quickie mart” building and it looked like she had perhaps slipped on some ice and fell, so I got out seeing if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs and fallen. She was a young woman who looked really hazard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, I picked it up to give it to her...it was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient suburban crammed full of stuff with three kids in the back (one in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she kept saying, “I don’t want my kids to see me crying.” So we stood on the other side of the pump from the car. She said she was driving to California and things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, “And you were praying?” That made her back away from me a little, but I assured I was not a crazy person and said, “He heard you, and He sent me.”
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was filling, walked next door to a McDonald’s and bought two big bags of food, some gift certificates for more and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left two months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn’t have money to pay rent January first and finally in desperation, called her parents with whom she had not spoken to in about five years. They lived in California and they said she could come live with them and try and get on her feet there.
So she packed everything that she owned in her car and told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves and a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my own car, she said, “So are you like an angel or something?”
This definitely made me cry. I said, “Sweetie, at this time of year Angels are really busy, so sometimes, G-d uses regular people.”
It was incredible to be a part of someone else’s divine intervention. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car; it started right away and got me home with no problems. I’ll put it in the shop tomorrow but I have a feeling they will find nothing wrong with it.
I have read and reread that story so many times since I came across it months ago. And still, every time, it brings tears to my eyes. I started out by mentioning Angels and while I do believe heavenly Angels are very real and do walk amongst us, I believe G-d instills in us, the ability to be Angels here on earth. I have heard so many people say, “What can I do? I am only one person.” “Things and people never change.” Truth be told, I have been one of those people. When you look at the mess that the world is in, it’s so easy to feel so small and incapable of change. But people don’t always seem to realize that it’s not always the big acts of change, sometimes it’s the small things. Like buying a struggling stranger some food and gas. Giving up your seat on the bus to someone that needs it more. My last blog talked about having faith and knowing that G-d has a plan and can see what will come. Did you even consider that a simple act of kindness could inspire others to do the same? When that man showed kindness to that woman, he could have been inspiring her or even one of her kids to someday do something bigger and better. Or maybe the simple act of writing down his experience is going to inspire the people that G-d is trying to reach out to right now to get up and do something. I believe that yes, humans are sinful by nature, BUT I also believe that human have good in them as well. Before sin came into the picture, we started out as good, G-dly beings. But G-d equipped us with the ability to make choices. It was the only way He could truly ask us to have faith in Him. I believe we ALL have good in our hearts. Some are just better at pushing the voice of G-d aside and choosing a different path. The evil that is destroying our world is not of G-d...it’s the work of the devil. He takes the very thing that we use to have faith in G-d and he uses it to cause as much chaos as possible. But just as we have a choice to listen to G-d, we have a choice in listening to the devil! The devil would love nothing more than to ruin would-be “Earthly Angels” and not allow G-d’s love and grace to spread. But we can put a stop to him! We can fight back! We can choose to love the way G-d asks us to. We can choose to show at least one kind act everyday...even if it’s as simple as opening a door or giving a kind smile to a stranger! Not every incredible earth changing events start with something or someone huge...sometimes they are small and simple things that a willing Earthly Angel did and that started a chain reaction that just grew and grew. Think about it people! The things we do and say everyday...things we may not even think twice about doing, could change something in the life of another person. I don’t know about you but that is very inspiring to me! Exciting even! So I leave you with a challenge. Keep a wide open eye on yourself and everything around you. Keep a smile on your face because that can inspire people to be more positive and have a better day. Be courteous to everyone you come across, cause that could inspire them to do the same. And most of all...never ever underestimate yourself. Because while I absolutely believe the small things count...G-d still places people on this earth that are capable of doing the big things as well. I don’t know that writing these blogs is earth shattering, but a few years ago, I would have never believed I had it in me. G-d can use us all in ways we can’t even imagine...but only if we choose to let Him. So maybe today is the day you will choose to step up.
G-d Bless!
K
Let's Talk About Faith...
This blog is actually going to be a shortened and slightly modified version of the first chapter of a book that I have in the works. I wrote this specific part back in October of 2009:
I think it’s safe to assume that most everyone out there at some point in their lives have heard that G-d is in control and G-d has a plan. Depending on the situation and what you believe, this may or may not be a comfort. I see it as a comfort, but that certainly hasn’t been the case all my life. Sadly, we aren’t just born with the drive to completely give every little thing to G-d. That whole “human nature and ability to choose” thing seems to get in the way at the worst of times. We then find the door opened wide to stress, fear, and a need for control that isn’t rightfully ours. G-d made humans to be complex creatures with the ability to feel and act in so many different ways, including following His lead without question. Unfortunately, original sin makes it impossible for us to be born with this. We start out with our world revolving around us and then we slowly learn that there are more people in this reality than we first realized. This is a lesson that slowly grows throughout our lives. While the lesson can go in different directions depending on the person, we all eventually have to face the fact that the world revolves around G-d and His Will. This is an inevitable lesson, which is learned either before or after death.
As a baby, we are completely helpless and self centered. It’s how life begins for all of us. When you are hungry, you want to eat right now. When you are cold, you want warmth right now. When you are lonely, you want someone there to hold you right now. It doesn’t matter if they are sleeping or busy. What’s worse, babies are actually very smart. They observe, take things in, and eventually notice patterns. They know what to do to make mommy and daddy come running to give them whatever it is that they want. Makes a small part of you wish you could turn back the clock doesn’t it? Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Soon you start to get a little older and all of the sudden, you are starting to learn a new word...no. Now mommy and daddy are trying to tell you that it’s not ok to do whatever you feel like doing. If you want a toy another child has, you suddenly aren’t supposed to just go take it. If you see something you want when you are in the store with them, they won’t always buy it for you! Even after you’ve cried and screamed and made it very clear that this is what you want. In a new twist, the crying and screaming actually gets you in trouble now. It seems like you are being limited more and more. To be honest, this is a quality that we never lose. It’s just evolves over the years. Let me explain.
A toddler is curious about the mug sitting next to daddy with the weird clouds rising out of it. Daddy says “no” when the child walks over and grabs for it and even moves it out of reach. In the child’s mind, he or she should be able to touch it. It’s something new and interesting. They should be able to look at it and try to understand it and play with it. But in daddy’s mind, touching the mug of hot coffee could result in a very bad burn that could lead to his child going to the hospital. We have all heard the phrase “We are children of G-d” and it’s probably truer than people sometimes realize. G-d is a perfect being. He sees and knows all. He knows the cause and effect of every single decision we will ever be faced with. And I’m not just limiting this to the consequences that we feel personally. He sees how one little act or mistake can cause a domino effect that could influence several generations. Unfortunately, humans don’t instinctively think that way. When we find ourselves in a situation, the desired outcome is usually one that we feel is going to make us the happiest. Wanting this doesn’t make us bad people, it just makes us human. For example, a man and a woman are in a marriage. It’s no longer the healthiest relationship but there’s a lot of history there and humans have always found comfort in familiarity. Sure there are fights and some unspoken resentment but (as a person tends to tell themselves) it could always be worse. One day, the man comes home and sits his wife down and tells her that he is having an affair and wants a divorce. The wife, devastated, enters into what I like to call the negotiating phase. She sees she could end up no longer married to this man, which, despite anger and hurt; she doesn’t want to have happen. So she starts to try to make promises and changes. She works hard to figure out what this other woman has that she doesn’t. But despite her best efforts, he files for divorce and they eventually split. I’m sure there are plenty of things that went through your head when you read that she tried to keep him around. It can seem so easy, when looking in from the outside, to say,”Forget him! He’s obviously a jerk.” Or “Why would you want to stay with someone that obviously doesn’t love you?” It seems a little crazy doesn’t it? Who knows why she tried to hold on. Maybe she was scared. Maybe she had kids and thought the family should stay together for their sake. Maybe she loved him so much she can’t see herself with anyone else. The possibilities are endless. What she didn’t know was that, a few years down the road she would find herself in a relationship with a man that would surpass everything she has ever had. Had she been able to look ahead and see that event, she would have probably just let him leave without thinking twice. She would have known beyond the shadow of a doubt there was someone better for her out there. Obviously this isn’t limited to love or relationships...people have lost jobs, people have lost homes, people have had to move...the list goes on. These things are usually not the happiest times in a person’s life but they can at times be G-d saying, “I have something better in mind, so please have faith in my guidance.”
The unknown is probably one of the least desirable places to be at any point in your life. I speak from experience on this. But what would be the point of faith if we were able to look ahead like G-d can and see everything coming? At times you can find yourself in the middle of the worst situation you have ever dealt with and everything in you, everything human about you, makes you want to take control and fix it. At times, G-d does equip us to do so. But sometimes all G-d wants us to do is drop to our knees and say “OK, I accept that this is in your control G-d. Show me the way.” And what’s even harder is to follow that with the genuine act of trusting G-d and what He has planned. Don’t get me wrong, trusting G-d doesn’t magically make you feel super about everything that’s going on. You are still human after all. And there have been times that I have found myself taking back what I gave to Him. When that happens, I once again have talk to G-d, let Him know how I feel, apologize for losing faith, and then hand it back over to Him.
The power and the love of G-d is greater than anyone or anything that comes our way. It always has been and it always will be. And He repeatedly promises to never turn His back on us. Not even when we deserve it. So why not open your arms and your heart to the love that He has waiting for you. Open your hand and reach out to the arms that He has had waiting for you this whole time, and allow Him to help guide you to a better place. Faith is probably by far the scariest thing imaginable, but it’s also the safest and most wonderful thing you can ever open yourself up to.
G-d Bless!
K
I think it’s safe to assume that most everyone out there at some point in their lives have heard that G-d is in control and G-d has a plan. Depending on the situation and what you believe, this may or may not be a comfort. I see it as a comfort, but that certainly hasn’t been the case all my life. Sadly, we aren’t just born with the drive to completely give every little thing to G-d. That whole “human nature and ability to choose” thing seems to get in the way at the worst of times. We then find the door opened wide to stress, fear, and a need for control that isn’t rightfully ours. G-d made humans to be complex creatures with the ability to feel and act in so many different ways, including following His lead without question. Unfortunately, original sin makes it impossible for us to be born with this. We start out with our world revolving around us and then we slowly learn that there are more people in this reality than we first realized. This is a lesson that slowly grows throughout our lives. While the lesson can go in different directions depending on the person, we all eventually have to face the fact that the world revolves around G-d and His Will. This is an inevitable lesson, which is learned either before or after death.
As a baby, we are completely helpless and self centered. It’s how life begins for all of us. When you are hungry, you want to eat right now. When you are cold, you want warmth right now. When you are lonely, you want someone there to hold you right now. It doesn’t matter if they are sleeping or busy. What’s worse, babies are actually very smart. They observe, take things in, and eventually notice patterns. They know what to do to make mommy and daddy come running to give them whatever it is that they want. Makes a small part of you wish you could turn back the clock doesn’t it? Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Soon you start to get a little older and all of the sudden, you are starting to learn a new word...no. Now mommy and daddy are trying to tell you that it’s not ok to do whatever you feel like doing. If you want a toy another child has, you suddenly aren’t supposed to just go take it. If you see something you want when you are in the store with them, they won’t always buy it for you! Even after you’ve cried and screamed and made it very clear that this is what you want. In a new twist, the crying and screaming actually gets you in trouble now. It seems like you are being limited more and more. To be honest, this is a quality that we never lose. It’s just evolves over the years. Let me explain.
A toddler is curious about the mug sitting next to daddy with the weird clouds rising out of it. Daddy says “no” when the child walks over and grabs for it and even moves it out of reach. In the child’s mind, he or she should be able to touch it. It’s something new and interesting. They should be able to look at it and try to understand it and play with it. But in daddy’s mind, touching the mug of hot coffee could result in a very bad burn that could lead to his child going to the hospital. We have all heard the phrase “We are children of G-d” and it’s probably truer than people sometimes realize. G-d is a perfect being. He sees and knows all. He knows the cause and effect of every single decision we will ever be faced with. And I’m not just limiting this to the consequences that we feel personally. He sees how one little act or mistake can cause a domino effect that could influence several generations. Unfortunately, humans don’t instinctively think that way. When we find ourselves in a situation, the desired outcome is usually one that we feel is going to make us the happiest. Wanting this doesn’t make us bad people, it just makes us human. For example, a man and a woman are in a marriage. It’s no longer the healthiest relationship but there’s a lot of history there and humans have always found comfort in familiarity. Sure there are fights and some unspoken resentment but (as a person tends to tell themselves) it could always be worse. One day, the man comes home and sits his wife down and tells her that he is having an affair and wants a divorce. The wife, devastated, enters into what I like to call the negotiating phase. She sees she could end up no longer married to this man, which, despite anger and hurt; she doesn’t want to have happen. So she starts to try to make promises and changes. She works hard to figure out what this other woman has that she doesn’t. But despite her best efforts, he files for divorce and they eventually split. I’m sure there are plenty of things that went through your head when you read that she tried to keep him around. It can seem so easy, when looking in from the outside, to say,”Forget him! He’s obviously a jerk.” Or “Why would you want to stay with someone that obviously doesn’t love you?” It seems a little crazy doesn’t it? Who knows why she tried to hold on. Maybe she was scared. Maybe she had kids and thought the family should stay together for their sake. Maybe she loved him so much she can’t see herself with anyone else. The possibilities are endless. What she didn’t know was that, a few years down the road she would find herself in a relationship with a man that would surpass everything she has ever had. Had she been able to look ahead and see that event, she would have probably just let him leave without thinking twice. She would have known beyond the shadow of a doubt there was someone better for her out there. Obviously this isn’t limited to love or relationships...people have lost jobs, people have lost homes, people have had to move...the list goes on. These things are usually not the happiest times in a person’s life but they can at times be G-d saying, “I have something better in mind, so please have faith in my guidance.”
The unknown is probably one of the least desirable places to be at any point in your life. I speak from experience on this. But what would be the point of faith if we were able to look ahead like G-d can and see everything coming? At times you can find yourself in the middle of the worst situation you have ever dealt with and everything in you, everything human about you, makes you want to take control and fix it. At times, G-d does equip us to do so. But sometimes all G-d wants us to do is drop to our knees and say “OK, I accept that this is in your control G-d. Show me the way.” And what’s even harder is to follow that with the genuine act of trusting G-d and what He has planned. Don’t get me wrong, trusting G-d doesn’t magically make you feel super about everything that’s going on. You are still human after all. And there have been times that I have found myself taking back what I gave to Him. When that happens, I once again have talk to G-d, let Him know how I feel, apologize for losing faith, and then hand it back over to Him.
The power and the love of G-d is greater than anyone or anything that comes our way. It always has been and it always will be. And He repeatedly promises to never turn His back on us. Not even when we deserve it. So why not open your arms and your heart to the love that He has waiting for you. Open your hand and reach out to the arms that He has had waiting for you this whole time, and allow Him to help guide you to a better place. Faith is probably by far the scariest thing imaginable, but it’s also the safest and most wonderful thing you can ever open yourself up to.
G-d Bless!
K
Friday, February 12, 2010
Oh the trickiness of real love...
Hello All!
You have no idea how excited I am about this blog finally getting underway. For quite a while now, I have had all kinds of thoughts running through my head and it’s exhilarating to know that I can share them with so many people.
Today, one of the things laying on my heart is love. And no, not because it’s almost Valentine’s Day. I am 30 years old and have been with my husband for over a year. This certainly doesn’t make me an expert but it has given me plenty of experience with the different types of love. One thing that I have had going for me is I have very good role models in that area. My mother and father have been together for about 34 years now (and still going strong) and ever since my brother and I were old enough to understand it, they have taught us what it takes to have a successful marriage. If you ask either one of them who their best friend is, they will point out the other. While heat and passion is all find and good (I certainly wouldn’t be here without it) a foundation of friendship and G-d as the center is key. If you can’t be friends with your significant other, how in the world will you truly love them? G-d speaks extensively about love in the Torah and in the Bible. The love of a man and woman, the love of a friend, the love of a family, and the love that only He can give us. But I see a lot of things clouding a person’s ability to see what real love is and to act accordingly. We have movies where things go south but everything is perfection in the end, we have books that depict love as heat and passion, and there are people who are convinced the simple act of giving themselves away to passion is the act of love...hence the phrase, “making love”.
My opinion of the definition can go in many different directions. I believe real love is selfless. I believe real love is wrapping yourself around another person without losing yourself in the process. I believe it’s putting aside your own desires for the good of the other person. I believe sometimes it entails taking a chance but also considering the consequences, not just for yourself but for the other person involved as well. I believe it’s thinking less of what you want and more of what the other person needs. Look at it this way, G-d asks that we love like He does. And while I think it’s impossible for humans to hit the mark 100% (thanks to human nature) I believe that anytime you are finding yourself in the good graces of another person, you should consider how G-d would want you to love them. G-d’s love is unconditional and as such, completely selfless. When you enter a marriage and/or become a parent, it’s no longer about you. And (if you wish to succeed) it never will be again. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I get my way, and there are times when my husband gets his. It’s give and take. It always will be. It actually reminds me of something I heard on the radio one night while I was driving home. A couple called in with a dilemma. They were in love and were planning to get married. But they couldn’t in anyway agree on the type of wedding they should have. He wanted an all out party and she wanted completely traditional. They were both on the line and you should have heard them fighting about it. Yelling and neither cared to hear what the other had to say. And this was just the wedding! The wedding isn’t even the most important part of a marriage people! So they opened the lines to allow callers to voice their thoughts to try and help. Many people were saying compromise. But these two would have none of it. It was one way or the other, no middle ground. And it actually made me sad and I felt confident enough to sit there and guess they would be divorced in a matter of years. I have seen too many people ruin a relationship, a friendship, and even lives, by not understand what is really involved in a marriage and what real love is.
When G-d gave us the capacity to love, He was giving us a huge blessing. He was giving us the chance to feel what He does. He was giving us the chance to look at another human being the way He looks down on us. And yet we still manage to get it wrong. There are very few people that can honestly say the person they spent their whole lives loving was the first and only time they tried at love. Most of us can only sit back and wish we had gotten it right the first time. I myself have failed in the past but I didn’t know what real love could be like till I met my husband and I didn’t know what real love felt like till I started seeing Him the way G-d does. The foundation of our relationship is the fact that we are each others’ best friends and we center everything around G-d. My engagement ring says it all. Some would look at it and think it’s the “past, present, and future” setting that is popular right now. But it’s not. The middle stone is a bit bigger than the two side ones because the middle stone represents G-d and the side stones represent husband and wife. The setting depicts a G-d centered marriage. As long as we keep that mind set, our marriage will end the way it should...”Till Death Do Us Part...”
G-d Bless,
K
You have no idea how excited I am about this blog finally getting underway. For quite a while now, I have had all kinds of thoughts running through my head and it’s exhilarating to know that I can share them with so many people.
Today, one of the things laying on my heart is love. And no, not because it’s almost Valentine’s Day. I am 30 years old and have been with my husband for over a year. This certainly doesn’t make me an expert but it has given me plenty of experience with the different types of love. One thing that I have had going for me is I have very good role models in that area. My mother and father have been together for about 34 years now (and still going strong) and ever since my brother and I were old enough to understand it, they have taught us what it takes to have a successful marriage. If you ask either one of them who their best friend is, they will point out the other. While heat and passion is all find and good (I certainly wouldn’t be here without it) a foundation of friendship and G-d as the center is key. If you can’t be friends with your significant other, how in the world will you truly love them? G-d speaks extensively about love in the Torah and in the Bible. The love of a man and woman, the love of a friend, the love of a family, and the love that only He can give us. But I see a lot of things clouding a person’s ability to see what real love is and to act accordingly. We have movies where things go south but everything is perfection in the end, we have books that depict love as heat and passion, and there are people who are convinced the simple act of giving themselves away to passion is the act of love...hence the phrase, “making love”.
My opinion of the definition can go in many different directions. I believe real love is selfless. I believe real love is wrapping yourself around another person without losing yourself in the process. I believe it’s putting aside your own desires for the good of the other person. I believe sometimes it entails taking a chance but also considering the consequences, not just for yourself but for the other person involved as well. I believe it’s thinking less of what you want and more of what the other person needs. Look at it this way, G-d asks that we love like He does. And while I think it’s impossible for humans to hit the mark 100% (thanks to human nature) I believe that anytime you are finding yourself in the good graces of another person, you should consider how G-d would want you to love them. G-d’s love is unconditional and as such, completely selfless. When you enter a marriage and/or become a parent, it’s no longer about you. And (if you wish to succeed) it never will be again. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I get my way, and there are times when my husband gets his. It’s give and take. It always will be. It actually reminds me of something I heard on the radio one night while I was driving home. A couple called in with a dilemma. They were in love and were planning to get married. But they couldn’t in anyway agree on the type of wedding they should have. He wanted an all out party and she wanted completely traditional. They were both on the line and you should have heard them fighting about it. Yelling and neither cared to hear what the other had to say. And this was just the wedding! The wedding isn’t even the most important part of a marriage people! So they opened the lines to allow callers to voice their thoughts to try and help. Many people were saying compromise. But these two would have none of it. It was one way or the other, no middle ground. And it actually made me sad and I felt confident enough to sit there and guess they would be divorced in a matter of years. I have seen too many people ruin a relationship, a friendship, and even lives, by not understand what is really involved in a marriage and what real love is.
When G-d gave us the capacity to love, He was giving us a huge blessing. He was giving us the chance to feel what He does. He was giving us the chance to look at another human being the way He looks down on us. And yet we still manage to get it wrong. There are very few people that can honestly say the person they spent their whole lives loving was the first and only time they tried at love. Most of us can only sit back and wish we had gotten it right the first time. I myself have failed in the past but I didn’t know what real love could be like till I met my husband and I didn’t know what real love felt like till I started seeing Him the way G-d does. The foundation of our relationship is the fact that we are each others’ best friends and we center everything around G-d. My engagement ring says it all. Some would look at it and think it’s the “past, present, and future” setting that is popular right now. But it’s not. The middle stone is a bit bigger than the two side ones because the middle stone represents G-d and the side stones represent husband and wife. The setting depicts a G-d centered marriage. As long as we keep that mind set, our marriage will end the way it should...”Till Death Do Us Part...”
G-d Bless,
K
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Why the G-d?
Shalom/Hello,
We want to share G-d with the world, but firstly, I need to explain why you will see my wife and I leave the “o” out of G-d.
In the Jewish faith, it is not proper to use G-d’s real name unless in prayer. (Even then we do not say the 4 lettered name outside of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which no longer stands.) However, even using one of G-d’s other names should be limited to holy purposes, and not in vain. That’s why we usually use " Hashem" meaning “The Name.” When G-d’s name is written on paper it creates potential problems, as it should be treated with holiness and not merely tossed in the garbage. For that reason we often write the name incomplete, such as G-d, in order to avoid that concern. Even then, if one writes words of Torah, without G-d’s name, it should also be treated properly.
Jews do not casually write any Name of G-d. This practice does not come from the commandment not to take the Lord's Name in vain, as many suppose. In Jewish thought, that commandment refers solely to oath-taking, and is a prohibition against swearing by G-d's Name falsely or frivolously (the word normally translated as "in vain" literally means "for falsehood").Judaism does not prohibit writing the Name of G-d per se; it prohibits only erasing or defacing a Name of G-d. However, observant Jews avoid writing any Name of G-d casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated or destroyed accidentally or by one who does not know better.
The commandment not to erase or deface the name of G-d comes from Deut. 12:3. In that passage, the people are commanded that when they take over the promised land, they should destroy all things related to the idolatrous religions of that region, and should utterly destroy the names of the local deities. Immediately afterwards, we are commanded not to do the same to our G-d. From this, the Rabbi's inferred that we are commanded not to destroy any holy thing, and not to erase or deface a Name of G-d.
It is worth noting that this prohibition against erasing or defacing Names of G-d applies only to Names that are written in some kind of permanent form, and recent rabbinical decisions have held that writing on a computer is not a permanent form, thus it is not a violation to type G-d's Name into a computer and then backspace over it or cut and paste it, or copy and delete files with G-d's Name in them. However, once you print the document out, it becomes a permanent form. That is why observant Jews avoid writing a Name of G-d on web sites like this one or in newsgroup messages: because there is a risk that someone else will print it out and deface it.
That explained, we would like all children of G-d to be part of our campaign in uniting His children, no matter what their colour, or religious denomination is. G-d Bless.
J
We want to share G-d with the world, but firstly, I need to explain why you will see my wife and I leave the “o” out of G-d.
In the Jewish faith, it is not proper to use G-d’s real name unless in prayer. (Even then we do not say the 4 lettered name outside of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which no longer stands.) However, even using one of G-d’s other names should be limited to holy purposes, and not in vain. That’s why we usually use " Hashem" meaning “The Name.” When G-d’s name is written on paper it creates potential problems, as it should be treated with holiness and not merely tossed in the garbage. For that reason we often write the name incomplete, such as G-d, in order to avoid that concern. Even then, if one writes words of Torah, without G-d’s name, it should also be treated properly.
Jews do not casually write any Name of G-d. This practice does not come from the commandment not to take the Lord's Name in vain, as many suppose. In Jewish thought, that commandment refers solely to oath-taking, and is a prohibition against swearing by G-d's Name falsely or frivolously (the word normally translated as "in vain" literally means "for falsehood").Judaism does not prohibit writing the Name of G-d per se; it prohibits only erasing or defacing a Name of G-d. However, observant Jews avoid writing any Name of G-d casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated or destroyed accidentally or by one who does not know better.
The commandment not to erase or deface the name of G-d comes from Deut. 12:3. In that passage, the people are commanded that when they take over the promised land, they should destroy all things related to the idolatrous religions of that region, and should utterly destroy the names of the local deities. Immediately afterwards, we are commanded not to do the same to our G-d. From this, the Rabbi's inferred that we are commanded not to destroy any holy thing, and not to erase or deface a Name of G-d.
It is worth noting that this prohibition against erasing or defacing Names of G-d applies only to Names that are written in some kind of permanent form, and recent rabbinical decisions have held that writing on a computer is not a permanent form, thus it is not a violation to type G-d's Name into a computer and then backspace over it or cut and paste it, or copy and delete files with G-d's Name in them. However, once you print the document out, it becomes a permanent form. That is why observant Jews avoid writing a Name of G-d on web sites like this one or in newsgroup messages: because there is a risk that someone else will print it out and deface it.
That explained, we would like all children of G-d to be part of our campaign in uniting His children, no matter what their colour, or religious denomination is. G-d Bless.
J
Introducing The G-d Sight!!
Hello/Shalom and Blessings to anyone and everyone taking the time to read the content of this blog! We feel that the first blog should be an introduction to us and to the whole purpose behind this site. Due to the protection of the privacy of our family and ourselves, you can all call me ‘K’ and my husband, ‘J’. We are an Orthodox Jewish couple, my husband is a Rabbi in training and we are both photographers and writers. We have been together for a little over a year now and share many things including a deep love for G-d and a passion for spreading the word of His love to all the people of the world. When I say all, I mean all. This site isn’t about converting people to our beliefs and traditions, it’s not about getting people to agree with our opinions, and it’s not about uniting people into one common religion. On the contrary, we believe that diversity is one of G-d’s greatest gifts to the world. It is a sad thing when the sinful nature of man turns our differences into a curse and a reason for war and hate. These things are not of G-d! This blog is a starting point for us to try and make a difference and spread the word of a similarity that all those fighting seem to have lost sight of…we all are speaking to the same G-d when is comes down to it. And that G-d is the reason for our existence whether we choose to believe that or not. He is the creator of all we see and the only source of 100% unconditional love. He is a G-d that we should be celebrating and loving, not fighting over. That is the point of the title of this blog. It’s our shared vision of what G-d would want this world to be. He wouldn’t want hate or fighting. He would want praise, love, and happiness. Some days it seems harder than others to come across that but it’s out there, it’s all around us. G-d created us with it, but we have to choose to use it and to spread it.
Our drive is to create a place for people to come together and to share their love for G-d, regardless of what they do or don’t believe. An open religious community if you will. A place where we will post thoughts and prayers that lie on our hearts as well as give you all the opportunity to contribute through comments and blogs that you take the time to write as well. We have set up a special email specifically for this site, thegsight@yahoo.com . If you would like to post a blog, a prayer request, or an answer to prayer, please email it to that address. Any private comments or concerns can also be sent there, the only people that have access are my husband and myself and we will respect all confidentiality. All postings belong to the author and are copyrighted as such. One thing to keep in mind, this is meant to be an open and peaceful community. Religion can be discussed and embraced but arguments and fighting is frowned upon and will not be tolerated. Any postings that are inappropriate will be removed. This site is open to the public and to people of all different religions and opinions. We ask that you please respect that and treat others as you would expect to be treated. Also, feel free to pass on the address of this site to anyone you think would enjoy it, like I said, open to the public, the more the merrier!
So with that, may the blogging begin! Please enjoy and come with an open heart and a readiness to feel G-d’s warmth and presence all around you. This is our chance to simply sit together and enjoy G-d for the incredible being that He is. Take with you encouragement and smiles as you go on with your daily routine and (I know from experience) without even a word, the people around you will notice and it will spread. Have a wonderful day and G-d bless you all!
K
Our drive is to create a place for people to come together and to share their love for G-d, regardless of what they do or don’t believe. An open religious community if you will. A place where we will post thoughts and prayers that lie on our hearts as well as give you all the opportunity to contribute through comments and blogs that you take the time to write as well. We have set up a special email specifically for this site, thegsight@yahoo.com . If you would like to post a blog, a prayer request, or an answer to prayer, please email it to that address. Any private comments or concerns can also be sent there, the only people that have access are my husband and myself and we will respect all confidentiality. All postings belong to the author and are copyrighted as such. One thing to keep in mind, this is meant to be an open and peaceful community. Religion can be discussed and embraced but arguments and fighting is frowned upon and will not be tolerated. Any postings that are inappropriate will be removed. This site is open to the public and to people of all different religions and opinions. We ask that you please respect that and treat others as you would expect to be treated. Also, feel free to pass on the address of this site to anyone you think would enjoy it, like I said, open to the public, the more the merrier!
So with that, may the blogging begin! Please enjoy and come with an open heart and a readiness to feel G-d’s warmth and presence all around you. This is our chance to simply sit together and enjoy G-d for the incredible being that He is. Take with you encouragement and smiles as you go on with your daily routine and (I know from experience) without even a word, the people around you will notice and it will spread. Have a wonderful day and G-d bless you all!
K
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