Three angels came to visit Avraham Avinu. The angel on the right, Michoel, had the pure energy of chesed – kindness, selflessness and compassion. On the left, was the angel Gavriel, with the gevurah – energy of strength, discipline and protection. Raphael, in the middle, brought healing. We all need to heal and it will come by finding the balance between chesed and gevurah – strength and compassion. Tiferes, harmony, results from the blending of the energy of chesed and gevurah in the unique amount that each individual needs.
There’s a note that has been stuck on the side of my fridge through many seasons. It says, Here is a test to find out if your mission in life is completed: If you’re alive, it isn’t.
Too many of us have this notion that there is a monstrous guy up in the sky cackling away as he watches us meet each new struggle in our lives. We may especially think that He’s smirking about the trials that seem uncannily similar to the ones we just suffered through last week. Blaming what happens to us on this narrow vindictive version of God, though, doesn’t help us inch any closer to becoming our full selves.
Recognizing that our souls are naturally and cosmically striving can help us embrace the struggles involved in our refinement. The egos covering our souls can become expert at resisting the repeated communications coming our way to help us grow. It isn’t at all comfortable to make the changes we need to become more balanced beings, and this resistance continues throughout our entire lifetimes. Again and again, as the learning opportunities keep presenting themselves, with remarkably identical themes and strikingly repetitive patterns, we can just keep responding the same old way that we always have.
There’s no escaping our purpose though. We’ll find ourselves right back here after this life, in a different form, but the same soul – and the exact same unique mission that still needs to be completed!
Yup, Suzanne, some “personal trainer” out there is bound to find us, and try to enlighten us (sometimes painfully) with the most vital insights for our perfectly individualized improvement program. Not showing up at the “gym” tomorrow won’t help. Our souls are not going to give up their intrinsic yearning for ultimate balance and actualization any time soon. ‘Cause it’s the most awesome pleasure possible.
Bracha Goetz is the author of 16 children’s books, including Remarkable Park, The Invisible Book and Let’s Stay Safe!. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland, and can be contacted for questions, comments or presentations at [email protected].
