From the time of creation, G-d intended that we should be
persecuted and sent into exile. Right from the beginning of the bible, the four
major exiles are already indicated, and it is in the last book of the bible
that is most connected to this period of exile and descent, towards the last
portions of the bible, that the ultimate redemption for the entire universe is
spoken about.
This confirms the rule that it is the lowest of situations
that connect us most profoundly with the highest and deepest of intentions and
ultimate goals. The higher a stone on a building, the further it falls from its
base, the deeper it entrenches itself in the ground. When we see a stone so far from its source on
the ground, we know, it must have fallen from a very high source.
The further back the stone is pulled in a sling, the more
power is being transferred into it.
It is clear that not being in our own land and being
scattered all about is a result of not heeding the admonishment and rebuke of
the prophets. However, after the fact since everything comes from an All Merciful
and kind G-d, the process is not only a punishment but as well an opportunity
to discover holy sparks, otherwise unnoticed diamonds, to accumulate in our
repertoire, that would never have been discovered had we not been sent into
exile.
In mysticism there is a principle that teaches, the physical
world that appears to deny G-dliness and deceives us constantly of its source
has sparks of G-dliness hidden in it from places that are much higher and more
powerful than the outwardly spiritual phenomenon. A person is able to connect with G-dliness
through the opportunities in a physical world being used for spiritual purposes
in ways that are higher and deeper than can be reached merely through
spirituality alone.
When we use food to energize our bodies to serve G-d, we
take hard earned money and give it to support a G-dly cause, a transformation
of our lives and a connection with G-d is reached beyond any spirituality in
itself could ever take us to.
When a person lost his way because he wasn’t careful before
he set out on his trip to do due diligence, or a person made foolish choices
and ends up in a dark tunnel, he should take the blame and feel guilty.
However, he should not for even a moment think that this is where it ends and
all is lost.
It is in the descent and in the exile, it is when a person
is in a dark tunnel and has fallen down, what seems so far and distant that the
deepest and greatest discoveries and opportunities can be encountered.
Great spiritualists would instruct their students to be
happiest in times of difficulty because it was necessarily then, that they
would be able to gather the greatest of good, by anticipating this truth in a
joyous frame of mind.
Once the two Tzadikim, G-dly brothers Rabbi Zushe and
Elimelech (about three hundred years ago) were thrown into prison for being
Jewish. When they woke up in the morning, one of the brothers started to cry
realizing where they were. The other brother said, “the same G-d we serve
outside the prison, who tells us to accept everything in joy, tells us to serve
Him with whatever we are able to inside the prison. Let’s dance and sing for
the chance to serve G-d in a way we never did before.”
When the guards saw how happy they were and discovered the
reason, he took away their “new opportunity” to serve G-d and they were free
once again from their current hardship.
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