You might think that divine sparks are meted out by simple protocol: The lowlier the creation, the lowlier the divine spark it holds.
Just the opposite: Only the highest sparks could descend to the lowest places and retain their power to sustain a being.
Those are the sparks remaining to be rescued today.
On the way to Wasington for stop Iran rally. Had extremely rancorous debate with good friend as to predestination or teshuvah, tzedakah, tefillin changing רעה הגזרה Reply
The Taller They Are ....
In line of Rabbi Freeman's reminder that rocks are created beings, as is evil also created, it reminds me of a memory from the past.
As a young woman (driving age), I liked to go to the steel mill and watch the molten slag poured. In the beginning, the slag was mostly brilliant reds, oranges and yellows; as the night air cooled the slag, it became essentially black; but if one watched closely, there would be a few "sparks" that had not cooled completely.
If I apply that visual memory to today's Daily Dose - and Rabbi Freeman's reminder on evil, it becomes easy to see - some evil is so obvious that it cannot be missed, whereas other evil/yatzer hara is buried so deep that one has to search for it.
I can turn this same image around and apply it to yatzer hatov as well. It can be equally difficult to find good in life, people and situations.
I know my image is man-made; however, G-d gave men intelligence, etc. to be used in making the world a better place.
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The more light the less darkness. The more goodness performed the less evil remains Reply
wrestling with a hidden truth in my family
The state of thinking that one is inferior to others creates darkness. The behavior required to hide their false thinking is dark. The intensity of emotion is consuming for one who cares about this.
Noone is inferior. Each person has a purpose. Maybe it seems small to chose one's own life.
The hidden truth is that we are all inferior to Hashem. Maybe the word is not inferior? humble or with humility?
The truth of the person with an inferiority complex is that until they chose their own life we are all stuck in the dark with tension.The darkness of their thinking. The power generated from the person with an inferiority complex is sick and unleashed energy. It does not seem constructive to me in life, meaning to accomplish a successful business or school, family.
The yearning and longing for a position is good.Lliking to create a situation where people want what you have is good?
Trying to find the truth hidden in the darkness. Inferiority complex is one, being handicapped another
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I agree, it doesn’t necessarily mean people. I agree with comment as well. Your writings can inspire different thoughts. Often when rereading a writing and rethinking what it means, I’m lead down a different track, sometimes not even remotely close to the previous one. Perhaps at times, our thoughts about a given writing may be more in unison, and other times, can differ. Rocks are created, people are created, and as you stated, evil is created. At times, I can so struggle when trying to better understand just what evil entails and why it exist… ~ .. Thank you for your Daily Dose. They are very inspiring, allowing me to stop for a monument and reflect on various things more. Reply
Re: Diamonds in the rough Why do you interpret this as referring to people? Rocks are also created beings. So is evil. Reply
last thought In continuance of my previous posting and more in accordance, I do understand the traversal of peaks and valleys, in that, in the process of moving upwards from a valley overshadowed by surrounding peaks to the next summit, and perhaps even to a higher summit than the last, the process can make one stronger, grant new insights that others are not privy too, and render one more capable of greater brilliance. So while some can at times take the view of “the more lowly the created being, the lower the spark it contains”, of which was counteracted as being “just the opposite”, perhaps sparks can be of different hues that continually transform taking on array of colors and brilliance by internal and external doings, or the lack of, and that no one should be see as, or deemed as, a “more lowly created being”. Reply
The taller... As a mental health provider of last resort I have the privilege of serving many referred to as "the least" of our brothers and sisters. I've often described our respective roles as being the helper and the person asking for help. I note that my role is by far the easier of the two, yet ironically I'm the only one who gets paid. I sometimes wonder at what can appear to be divine caprice. .. Yet trust in Him. Reply
That's a shocker
I heard the sound of thunder, I think it's going to rain,...
For dreaming out loud!
Thank You!
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Diamonds-in-the-rough You wrote “You might think that the more lowly the created being, the lower the spark it contains.”, … No wonder the world can seem a tad dismal at times. As long as mankind goes around measuring one another as to who is better, who is more worthy, judging someone to be more “lowly” than another(s), many diamonds-in-the-rough will go unnoticed or worse. Aren’t we all somewhat of a diamond-in-the-rough needing to be (allowed to be) shinned up bit and in continuous need of polishing from others and from ourselves allowing for the great brilliance in each of us to be better realized? Reply
Beautiful thought. I never thought of the spark in that way before. Yasher koach!! Reply
Good Morning,
"I will give you hidden treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the G-d of Israel who summons you by name." [Isaiah 45:3]
G-d prepares us to be a blessing, so that we may bless others and glorify His name.
Thank you,
Beautiful 😍