THE LOVE OF A LION AND THE FEAR OF A LAMB

"The sluggard is afraid of meeting a lion in the streets, saying he will be killed by this lion!"
[The Proverbs]

Looking this way and that, afraid to cross a street, having come across this lion before, hearing roaring in the wind when it is actually only the chirping of birds, seeing lions on your path not venturing into a lion's den, imagining a lion's den when there is only a place of comfort, no lions at all, going into the dens of lions and coming out unscathed, Daniel being a man of honor, stuffing swords into the mouths of lions, having a shield that reflects their bite, going again and again into this lion's den being where you as the lions get your food, stealing food out of the mouths of the lions, being fed before them.

Seeing a lion who appears as a lion but is only a lamb, not to fear the lamb or the lion, to continue to go out into the streets meeting or not meeting a lion, streets empty of lions, not even a lion to imagine.

Knowing the difference between a lion and a lamb, not to be a tasty morsel for lions who pretend they are lambs.

To see a lion and to not be affected, to ignore the roar of a lion, to hear the roar and to deflect it, to not be game, to not play their game, to be the slayer of a lion who is just a lamb. To see everyone as being lions but to hear them all cooing not roaring, to know a real lion and to avoid him, to ignore a lion as he scratches his nails, to not be in the path of lions as they stampede.

To instead be a lion to those who scare you as lions, to roar when it is time to roar, and to ignore when it is time to ignore. To be a lion who lays down with a lamb and to feel its softness and to not worship this lamb. To not worship anyone who protects a lamb, to not use the lamb as a reason to disobey 613 Commandments.

To be this lion, to not be a sluggard to be afraid of lions, to not lock your doors and stay inside for fear of this lion, to be as brave as a lion and as soft as a lamb.

To be the leader of the pack, to love lions, to not fear lions, to be a lion and to be a lamb. 

THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING MARRIED MEN

Married men, hitched, hooked, cared for, nurtured, having a sweetheart at home, sharing the responsibilities of a household, earning money, childcare and childrearing, pushing the stroller when their wife tires, helping to change diapers, not deceiving of single women, not interested in a false relationship, Shabbats reserved for their wives and family, not to try to fool, having an important married relationship with legal boundaries, taking it seriously, not to cheat, sincerity withheld for one's wife and only for her, telling her she is special, not to have wandering eyes, a man and a wife who love each other, a man who loves his wife, a man who does not trick others, a man who does not wink except at children, a man who does not try to cause his wife worry, a man who takes the 613 Commandments in obedience, a man who reserves all his affections for his wife and children, a family man, a man who wants his children to succeed, a man who does not play around, a man who has no false intentions, a man who prays to G-d, a man who wants his children to have Bar/Bat Mitzvot, a man who reserves his commitment for his marriage, a man who wants a woman to succeed as his wife and she also feels the same way about him, a man who has integrity and nobility, a man who promises his wife and delivers his promises.

A man and woman, a husband and wife, who are one. Each being together as one unit in wholeness and both in love under One G-d.

CREATION IS BUILT WITH LOVING-KINDNESS

"Moreover, creation came about through Chesed, as it is written, "The world is built through Chesed."
[From Tanya, Chabad.org]

What is "chesed"? Chesed in the Hebrew language is a word that describes LOVINGKINDNESS.

What is it about lovingkindness that it is the one characteristic that was necessary to build an entire world with it?

Lovingkindness are the words and/or actions you get from someone who cares about you, to cause you to feel nurtured and cared for by her/him. These kind words so heal the soul and take away your troubles that they can be the strength upon which the entire world was built and created. Love expressed in words for someone who is ailing and asks for this care is the solution to the healing of one's problems. This lovingkindness is what is necessary to take away hurtful emotional states caused because there are no kind words/actions from others.

These words, this "chesed" is like a bandage, or like a tefillin as it brings strength to your arm, and as the Hebrew words we chant together in song mend feelings of aloneness, these actions of chesed from others brings one great strength, so we can become strong enough to do works of creation.

Yes, it was G-d's "chesed" or love that was His power to build the world. After He built all things, and they were created with His love, His kindness, His "chesed," G-d said "And it was good." All things are created by G-d, and all things were created with His kindness, and all things have the potentiality of becoming good or kind.

With this love we see in G-d, we can have this love within ourselves, we can call upon our own chesed and bring love and joy to others, to use kind words, to heal someone who is in need with our lovingkindness.

A UNION OF LOVE BETWEEN YOU AND GOD

To use one's imagination to increase pleasure and increase one's perception of G-d The Al-Mighty. To be in a place where you do not see or hear or feel G-d as a physical presence but instead use your imagination to see G-d, feel G-d and to always be able to have Him as yours because He is in your will, in your mind's eye, a G-d that is everywhere simply because you want Him to be.

To not have a boring image of a god or a sculpture that dictates to you what this god looks like or where and when to perceive him. Instead to be able to summon the presence of the G-d Al-Mighty anywhere and at anytime without any image or any physical object to represent Him.

Having G-d so near, to feel Him in your body or upon the sweetness of your lips, to have love for G-d and for Him to love you, in your holy imagination as you partner with G-d and use Him as a mentor, guide and most importantly as your loved One.

To not mix up your head with multiple gods and confusion this way and that, to have One G-d with One singular focus, to not covet the gods of others, to have complete union and satisfaction with the One G-d Al-Mighty and have His presence be everywhere and anywhere for you to merge with in union.

TO PRAISE GOD AND TO ALSO GIVE PRAISE TO THE DESERVING

To praise or not to praise, is there something wrong with giving praise to someone or for yourself to need and desire praise, to want to be praised or at least just appreciated in your accomplishments, to be loved and cared for and nurtured and praised by others, is this a good or bad feeling, to have a feeling to need to be praised?

As we are instructed to praise The G-d Almighty, it is so that we should offer praise too to our kinsmen and friends when they have an accomplishment that deserves praise. Not to offer just anyone The Nobel Peace Prize, I agree, but if your daughter offers to wash the dishes and to help with the cooking, what is wrong with a little praise? To offer praise to your son when he offers to fill up your car gas tank at the gas station to save you a trip out of doors so you can do other things with your time. When your children excel in school or get promotions on the job. To praise them and appreciate them, to let your sister know you are proud of her, and vice versa, for her to also praise you. To tell your Mother, "Mom, I appreciate everything you do. Gee Mom, you're great! Thanks!"

When a child or other family member does something that deserves praise, should praise be withheld? As we praise G-d, we are to praise each other, as we are to love G-d, we are to love each other, as we are to honor G-d, we are to honor each other, as we are to thank G-d, we are to thank people: this includes our parents, siblings, children, cousins, friends, co-workers, anyone who has meaning in our lives, people in our lives who we cannot do without.

As we use G-d as our good example, as our Mentor and Guide, so are we to serve others in an effort to make the world a better place to live.

RINGING THE DOORBELL OF YOUR FELLOW'S MEZZUZAH

"Take a moment and concentrate on yourself, on your true inner self, not on your performance and how you project to others; and be at peace with yourself knowing that G-d created a very special person which is you."
[Chabad.org]

To have a relaxed feeling of your image of yourself. To feel approval from everyone you come in contact with whether or not they give it to you. To feel confident about your contributions to society, to your family and to your friends. To feel like what you are doing is enough, to not think what you are doing has any lack, to feel the friendliness of your fellow Jewish neighbor and to connect in a holy way with him.

To kiss his Mezzuzah on his doorpost, to take the time to perform this Mitzvah so you connect with The Divine as you speak to your neighbor. To make sure your neighbor knows you come in peace and with good tidings, to offer him a gift of your love and concern for him. To make sure he knows you are there for him at all times, the bad times as well as the good.

To have a conversation with your landsman about teachings of the Rabbis and about The G-d Almighty Himself, to not waste words, to talk of the Divine, to speak about verses in The Torah, to offer someone kind words, to use words that matter, to not waste your words, to speak only of the importance of your mutual connection to The Torah.

To offer kind greetings to one's fellow Jewish neighbor on the Holidays. To greet your fellow with a smile. To give him laughter, to wish him a Shabbat Shalom and a Chag Sameach, to bless your fellow landsman with blessings for safe travel, to invite him to your Kiddush, to make sure your well wishes go to him so he can respond to you with the same.

Take time to be there for your fellow, to bless him, to heal him, to care about him, to pray to The Almighty G-d for your fellow's safety and for him to have happiness, for him to be connected with The Divine as you are too.
 

LABOR AND WORK THAT BRINGS DIGNITY

"This is the first key to personal growth. There is no such thing as spirituality without sacrifice. A field will not yield crops unless one plows and sows. In order to make the Divine potential each of us possesses grow and blossom, an investment of hard work must be made."
[Chabad.org]

Working, everyday doing labor that will reap you a reward. Writing being a type of labor, teaching Torah as a labor, creating as a labor. Laboriously creating, working, doing, acting, learning, carrying, studying, working to reap you a profit.

Profit being measured by how much work is a benefit to you, to others, to the world. Benefiting from your labors. Giving yourself joyous moments as you strive, as you work, as you labor.

Labor being an action to give you a meaningful purpose, a righteous focus to your life.

Not to give up on your work.

To do what you love to do and to do it everyday. To work as a joy, to strive to give someone else the benefits of your labor. To not just labor for yourself. To work to sustain someone. To be the giver of sustenance with your labor for those who lack sustenance and are in need of your profits.

To work, as being a direct descendant of Adam and Eve who were thrown out of The Garden of Eden to be in a life of work.

To not to have an easy life. To no longer have a freedom from work, but to instead have the freedom to do work.

To be able to choose your work and do only the work that enhances and enlightens you, to have a job that is not menial, a job of which you can be proud. To do work that you love to do, and not ever to do a job that degrades you or that you do not like to do.

No occupation is better than another, all occupations are equal.

To know that all work is good, that there does not exist any labor that is injurious, unless it is a labor that cheats and robs people. Never to have to lie or cheat or oppress others as a job because these wrongdoings earn you money. The man who lives in truth but not riches is better off than he who does deceitful work.

Working hard as a way to change the world, a way to heal those who suffer, working in a job that is meaningful and righteous.

Working in the arts to bring beauty to the world.

To be able to retire from work, to still have sustenance in your elder years.