Strength. Withholding. Discipline. Boundaries. Judgement. Discernment within Eternity. Stepping Forward. Long Haul. Day-to-Day. Endurance. Perseverance.
Sunday, May 12
Tonight I am struck by paradox. Gevurah, the Left Arm of Withholding; Netzach, the Right Leg Stepping Forward. Boundaries; Eternity.
Paradox is actually one of my favorite aspects of spiritual living. Let’s see if we can make some sense out of these paradoxical notions...
On a very Assiyadik - physical, embodied - level, I picture the basic action of walking. Our limbs work in opposition to move us Forward and keep us in Balance. Right Leg Forward, Left Arm Forward. These limbs work in synchronous, symmetrical motion. It seems that, in order to keep Stepping Forward, the Left Arm must play a supporting role.
Are there any Disciplines or practices you may want to engage or re-engage with to Step Forward in some area of your life?
Boundaries - Eternity. I hear Shema Yisrael... It is all One. Everything is included. Ultimate, Eternal reality. I hear Havadallah - the blessings of separation. I hear the days of creation, marked by boundaries and distinctions. I look around my living room and see the evident distinctions between my wife, my daughter, myself, the cat, the dog. I know that we are all physical manifestations of Eternal truth.
I don’t really know where I’m going with all of this, I’m just going...
Another paradox Netzach asks of us is to Endure, knowing all the while that to do that, we need to stay in each day. Day-to-Day, one day at a time. That takes Discipline, to be sure.
There is Strength in Endurance. Can you think of a time you came through a Long Haul, and found you were Strengthened by the experience?
Yes, not sure where all of this is going. For today, I’m going to trust in the principle that there is Strength in this Day-to-Day Discipline.