Our Humanity

Suffering, trials and tribulations test our patience and endurance, yet "though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm, for You are with me." Remember, "we are not human beings on a spiritual journey, we are spiritual beings on a human journey." With His power and anointing we can survive against all the odds... the Jewish people have. It's all to do with where the source of your strength comes from.

"Only man among living creatures shares the developed speech capacity of G-d. He is created in G-d's image... Words are our creative power. By confessing G-d's Word and praising Him in words, we change the whole direction of our lives. We go from failure and despair to triumph and joy." [Dan Juster] Never forget the power of words. We are called to be ambassadors of the Most High King for such a time as this.

There are sparks of light hidden in this world. When you "Know YHVH in all your ways," those sparks jump out at you and their light is released in your universe. But then there are sparks of such intensity that they had to be locked away deep, to be searched out and found. The only tools you have to liberate those sparks are the ones that supersede your intellect and senses - this is the spiritual realm, our home.

The purpose of every human being is to serve his Creator, and that is a service of great joy: "I, puny mortal and decidedly finite being, serve with my deeds the Infinite Creator of All Worlds! I am bound to the Source of Life from birth, and all the many raging waters of this world cannot tear me away from that bond. Even if I sometimes fail, I may always return and in a single moment reconnect all my soul." Chabad

We are not computers. Intellect is not where we begin and end. We have a soul that is beyond intellect, and our soul detects G-d because our soul sees G-d. Our faith is about getting in touch with the soul that knows G-d already, without needing any proof. This is not negating intellect - it is transcending it. How do you get in touch with your soul? Ask G-d. He'll tell you.

"If you see what needs to be repaired and how to repair it, then you have found a piece of the world that G-d has left for you to complete. But if you only see what is wrong and how ugly it is, then it is you yourself that needs repair." – Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Today, in THIS generation, I pray that you will know the power of G-d working in and through you to bring healing to a hurting world. Amen.

When we enter battle, remember our struggle is "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12). Yet although fighting evil is a noble activity when it must be done, it is not our primary mission in life – for our job is to bring in more light – as WE "are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14). Selah.

What's your 'Animal inside'..? "We all have our animal inside. The point is not simply to muzzle that animal, but to harness its power; to determine what sort of an animal this is and what can be done with it. A sheep, for example, is easily domesticated and doesn't care to hurt anyone, while an ox may kick and gore. But did you ever see a sheep plough a field?" – R Menachem M Schneerson.

G-d is calling us to greater HOLINESS. Not just passive holiness (abstinence for purity), but being actively "set apart" in our appearance and beliefs. He is calling for Moses people, who will take His Word to the Pharaohs (all sizes / authorities) of this World to "let His people [Israel] go", with signs and wonders following to prove the authority His word.

Each generation has its role in history. From all the generations before us we inherited a wealth of dreams: philosophy, truths, wisdom and purpose. We are tiny midgets standing on the shoulders of their ideas and their noble deeds. Our generation's mandate - and destiny - is to make the dream real.

'Perfection does not lie in never doing anything wrong; perfection lies in the struggle to do the right thing amidst the predilection to do otherwise... The man who struggles is a real hero. The man who fights to do the right thing, that's a true hero... perfection is elusive... All I'm asking is that you struggle, that you fight to become better, that you care enough to maximise your fullest potential.' Shmueley Boteach

In one of his most powerful statements, Rebbe Nacham unequivocally characterizes that facet of the human psyche which functions below the threshold of consciousness. A young man was bemoaning the difficulties he was encountering in his attempts to come closer to God. "But I really want to be a good Jew!" he insisted. "But," said the Rebbe, "do you really want to want?!"

From one of my favourite Jewish scholars and teachers, "The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. The trite subjects of human efforts, possessions, outward success, luxury have always seemed to me contemptible." - Albert Einstein, German-born Jewish Physicist (1879-1955)

"Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value." - Albert Einstein, German-born physicist (1879 - 1955)

"...astronomers have discovered that not all stars shine. There are some stars of such tremendous density that instead of radiating outwards, they only draw light in. Therefore, they have named these stars Black Holes. Fortunately, the universe has enough Black Holes already. If you have light, LET IT SHINE!" - Rabbi M Schneerson, and Rabbi Mashiach Yeshua said "For YOU are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14) - People of G-d, shine on!

Doing good is not about being nice. You can do nice things all day long for many people, but it could be all just more service of your own self, food for your own ego. The world was designed so people would need each other, not so you could be nice, but to give you the opportunity to escape the confines of your own self.
When you help those who show gratitude, when you lend a hand to those who are on your side, you are still within the realm of your own ego and self. Help someone you don't want to help. Help him and learn to want to help him—only because this is the right thing to do.

At first, it may not feel so rewarding. But you have sprung free. (Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson) And Yeshua said, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)