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When there are shadows in your life, how do you focus on the surrounding light?
When there are shadows in your life, how do you focus on the surrounding light?
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Latest Comments:
I like to compare a person to a candle, to see the small "i" that designator of personhood, as in the big I, as a candle. To me the small letter i looks just like a candle. In my minds "I" I can see the flame. I have been writing about the letters and sharing this for a long long time, before coming to Chabad, and yes, it's so true, what Menachem Posner wrote, but can't we, ever, include the entire world?
I am listening now to a beautiful song by Lucinda Williams, that goes... do you feel your act was the final truth/ do you really feel you have all the proof/ do you feel your acr was the final truth?
There is light in her name. I look to names and naming across a universe of names, words and letters. I am seeing a deep story, that involves all of us, Jews and Non Jews, and that storyt has got to be inclusive, and I can say in the word itself, inclusive I hear the word, "clues". We are entering a new state of consciousness. It's so much about LOVE.
Celebrate diversity. In humanity.
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I've been going through some awful things lately and the only thing I can really see is the light. I can't focus on the darkness, the horrible things that are happening to my life, instead G-d has given me the grace to focus on Him and the beautiful pieces of my life that remind me of Him.
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I like to compare a Jew to a candle—burning with a passion to serve G-d.
In Brooklyn, you were in a bonfire. There were thousands of Jews all around you—many of them keeping Torah and mitzvahs. It was easy to keep your candle shining bright, as you were kept aflame by the fires all around you. Yet, how much could your candle contribute? Not much, considering that you were in a place blazing bright already.
Now you are a candle in a dark room. It is hard to keep your flam burning; it can be daunting to know that you are one small spark in a sea of darkness. But think also how much more your candle is worth. Your small candle has the potential to bring light to a place that was once shrouded in complete darkness.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory, composed a booklet of Chassidic teachings—one for each day of the year. I feel that yesterday’s teaching is especially appropriate for someone in your situation:
“Divine Providence leads everyone to his place of residence for the purpose of strengthening yiddishkeit (Judaism) and disseminating Torah. When you plow and you sow - things will grow.”
Shine your candle, and it will grow to a blazing torch.
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I moved from Brooklyn, trying to make my way south toward the warmth and sun. Somehow, I got stuck on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I stayed in the area to go to school. There is a Chabad, an hour away but nothing Jewish in Salisbury, MD. I started to learn more about my faith and recently started to keep some things. I feel like I want to do more but can’t. At my University there are some Jews but they are either not religious or know anything about Judaism. I wish we had a kosher store or religious institution somewhere on campus or close by. I don’t want to be shrouded in this dark place; yet, I do want to finish my degree. How can I get more light in my life? I feel like I’m being suffocated by the shadow? Is there an organization that can be started? Is there some way to help bring religion to a school and area with none at all?
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Sh'lm Chana,
Your message is so sweet, it brings hope to my soul. I have been living with this special hope from G-d. I know His light which shines within me, but the world around me seems to be constantly trying to take it away. This has been happening since I was a child. Too much pain... yet in Him I find peace and true love. My love for Hashem is so strong, that all I want is to just run to Him and never come back. My daily strugle is to maintain that patience and tolerance until He calls me back. I keep busy, in mind and spirit, by working hard and prayer, studying Torah. How can I control my emotions that seems to run me down some days, when I cannot hear my Redeemer's voice, and feel His embrace because of the shadow of the past for which I had not control? Anger sets in for a moment, then I have to shout out to Hashem for help, the feeling of anger makes me feel guilt and I fear losing my beloved. This is a battle, which I know is between me and the Most High G-d.
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Who isn't going to reflect on your words and images ?
We see the shadow/darkness.
We see the light/brightness.
Better to focus on the light. As you remind us that it is always there.
Thank you.
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I really liked this one. I didn't know there's so many videos, I could learn a lot!
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the way i would now overcome mine is to always look at memories of mine that have happened to me-or an excitment that i have, that is going to come...i also look back when the day comes to an end and ask my self A) what Divine Providence happened to me today?
B)what happened today that i felt some sort of joy; something that went that day that made me happy-and that memory i can take and keep forever(and sometimes even put it in my "happy memories section"....
Thank you so much for this clip! i realy love it! i even sent it to some of my friends!
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Hi Chana, I love what you said and the poetry of how you said it.
I was once in a very dark cave in France. I was told this was the darkest cave in the world and that the lights would be turned off. I was actually quite afraid of this, being in the depths of a cave, as I am already claustrophobic. Anyhow, the lights went off, and what happened for me, was that my eyes accommodated after a short time, and I can say within that darkest night, in that cave, I did see light.
I use this when talking to my psychotherapy patients, and in general, that even in the darkest of places, I say, there is always light.
I love what you said about looking for the light, when in despair, as light is all around us and perhaps seeing it elsewhere, can lighten that burden and provide hope.
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Thank you Chana for this beautiful message. This is what I needed to hear now, and I am now applying this concept in my life.
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