A Soulful Journey

Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core   of his personality.   No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being unless   he loves him. By his love he  is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and   even more, he sees that which is potential in him, which is not yet actualized but yet ought to be actualized. Furthermore,   by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities.    By making him aware of what he can be and of what he should become, he makes these potentialities   come true .  - Viktor Frankl

The modern age has "derogated or ignored what it could not quantify, that frequently praised critical rigor and punished imagination, that reduced people to oversimplified protoplasmic units that ultimately sought an engineering solution for any problem."  - Alvin Toffler, T hird Wave People possess unlimited potential.  We are all in process of coming something infinitely great than what we are today.  Let it be that we treat everyone with that same potency and potential.

“The Talmud records that King Hezekiah was granted the prophetic foresight to see that the son he might bear- Manasseh – would bring evil and suffering into the world.  He decided, accordingly, not to have children. The prophet, Isaiah, rebuked him savagely.  “What have you to do with the mysteries of the Almighty?”  Any potential can be quantified – except a potential human life.”  - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Always give people the "benefit of doubt."

Rashi once said, "When I meet God, I am not going to be afraid.  He is going to say, "Rashi, why weren't you Abraham?" or "Why weren't you Moses?" I am afraid he will ask, "Rashi, why weren't you Rashi?" While this story is told in different ways it may be because we need to take the challenge personally.  This is not about some distant historical figure, it is the challenge we face during our short lifespan.

"The horse who knows he is a horse, is not.  Man's major task is to learn that he is not a horse."  - Maggid Self awareness, knowing who you are and what you are, is the key that unlocks your present and future. Meditate on your potential.  Are you less than you could be?  Are you the person that God  knows you can be?

An old story is told about the beginning of time. The universe was in the process of being created and not everything was yet in order or fully functioning. Before the universe could be totally engaged, the Creator had one final task to complete. To help him complete this task the Lord summoned an angel. The angel came. The Creator told the angel that he, the Lord, had one last job to do in the making of the universe. “I saved the best for last,” the Creator told the angel. “I have here the real meaning of human life, the treasure of life, the purpose and goal of all this that I have created. “Because this treasure is valuable beyond description,” the Creator continued, “I want you to hide it. Hide this treasure so well that human beings will know its value to be immeasurable.” “I will do so, Lord,” said the angel. “I will hide the treasure of life on the highest mountain top.” “The treasure will be too easy to find there,” said the Creator. “Then,” said the angel, “I wil...

A sales manager assembled his team for a pep talk.  On the screen was a big white spot with a single black dot in the middle. He asked, “What do you see?”  All replied, “A big black dot.”  The manager said, “That is a poor outlook.  Look at all the white space surrounding it.  Those are all possibilities which are far greater than the dot.”

I am not the fire, not the light, not the flame. I am not the Source But I am given the resource To reflect, to shine, to bring light To dispel the shadow. I become the fire, the light, the flame. I lean toward the Source And life and light leap across To spark, to kindle, to ignite To enlighten the night. I am the fire, the light, the flame. I am one with the Source And given a mission To reflect, to shine, to bring light To burn forever in eternal day. -Rev Ron Nicholas, 2010