Lots of stuff running through my heart and mind these days. Here is what I’m thinking and feeling.
It’s 2022 – I thought we had figured out how to resolve our differences without weapons and loss of life?! Alas…But the nice thing is that the rest of the world (maybe excluding China) seems to agree.
All of this negative news eats at our insides. We need to fortify ourselves internally with good greens; faith, trust, prayer and action.
My friends in the Ukraine, fellow Chabad Rabbis/Rebbetzins are real heroes. Plus their lives are forever changed, many not to return.
Lessons learned, everything in this life is temporary. No one can be too sure of anything, even less so ourselves.
Appreciate your loved ones, hold them close to you, put aside negativity.
This week we begin the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, the book of sacrifices.
Sacrifice is what goes on after the heart feels, (and we allow ourselves to feel those feelings) and after the mind does its analysis of the situation, (weighs the pros and cons of the heart) then we decide if we will live true, honestly and vulnerably. That’s where sacrifice lives.
This is taking up space in my heart and mind these days. Trying to let go and be present, fully.
”I think midlife is when the universe gently places her hands upon your shoulders, pulls you close, and whispers in your ear:
I’m not messing around. It’s time. All of this pretending and performing – these coping mechanisms that you’ve developed to protect yourself from feeling inadequate and getting hurt – has to go.
Your armor is preventing you from growing into your gifts. I understand that you needed these protections when you were small. I understand that you believed your armor could help you secure all of the things you needed to feel worthy of love and belonging, but you’re still searching and you’re more lost than ever.
Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead of you. You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think. You were born worthy of love and belonging. Courage and daring are coursing through you. You were made to live and love with your whole heart. It’s time to show up and be seen.”
May Hashem protect and preserve our brothers and sisters and all good people.
Do something nice for someone today.
Good Shabbos!
Rabbi Mendel Schusterman
Thanks to my brother, Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman, of Chabad Intown, Atlanta, for sharing the above thought.
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