Been Here All Along

The child locks her mother out of the home - with the only key on the kitchen table. when the mother overcomes her panic she is able to couch her daughter and instruct her how to open the door with the key.

Mother never felt so vulnerable in her life.

The Kabbalists were troubled by this. The Arizal taught that in order for G-d to create the world he first had to create a "vacuum and empty space" by "moving his light to the side", and only then, after the world is created, can the human being draw the infinite light back into the "vacuum and empty space". Now, if we are the child who through our divine service we "draw" G-d into this world, then does that not mean that G-d is weak? Isn't the Kabbalah's only acceptable definition of G-d is that he is complete - "Shleimut" - and there can be nothing incomplete about him?

So we need to scrap that parable and think about this one instead:

Mother and daughter are both home. Daughter does not realize that mother is home (or she does not recognize this person to be her mother). Mother is therefore locked out, not of the home but, of her daughter's perception. When the daughter discovers the mother and brings her into her own perception she did not affect any change in her mother, because, objectively, mother has been here all along. The "vacuum and empty space" created by G-d, should not be taken literally. G-d's conceals his infinite light so that in our perception there is a "vacuum and empty space". 

So open your heart and mind and allow the divine presence into your world. But remember: He has been here all along.

(While learning Likutey Torah Parshas Balak)