Monday, December 1, 2008

Connect

Love or awe, passion or respect, which is more connecting? On the surface awe doesn't stand a chance. How can it even compete against the powerful force of love?

Chasidus allows me to look at the world from a deeper angle. Love is a feeling that connects, it connects me to myself. The more I love the more I am focused on myself, the harder it is to put myself aside and appreciate the needs of my beloved.

[As in, "I am in love right now, I want to talk to you about my feelings" while your beloved is thinking "I wish you would notice that I am in pain right now, and in no position to talk about love".]

When I am in awe, when I feel reverence and respect, I don't feel myself. I can focus and connect to the feelings of the other.

To truly connect I must transcend myself.

In the morning prayers I ask Hashem "May my soul be like dust before all, open my heart to your Torah". I pray for the humility that allows me to connect to something greater then myself.

I ask myself are love and awe opposites? Are Avraham, the embodiment of love, and Yitzchok, the embodiment of fear, opposites?

In truth they are two steps in forming a bond. Love is a feeling of connectedness, and it is crucially important to any relationship. But hey, don’t underestimate the importance of awe. It alone has the power to truly unite deeply and meaningfully.

So the next time you love don't forget to respect. It may not be as fun, but it's the glue holding you together.

(Liku"s Vol. 30, Toldot, Sicha 1)

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