Following The Ancient Paths
Friday, January 26, 2007
HaShem's Commandos
Posted in Working Out My Salvation With Fear and Trembling
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There is a site I really enjoy, called Lazer Beams A while ago Rabbi Lazer posted this entry and it has been on my mind a lot today. So I thought I'd share part of it. The link above will take you to the site in general and the link in the title below will take you to the article in full. HaShem's Commandos Dear Rabbi Lazer, I've been a Baal Tshuva for 3 years now. I didn't make tshuva because of a trauma or anything, but because I became firmly committed to the Torah and its timeless truth. Yet, ever since I made tshuva, my life keeps getting harder: I lost my job (6-figure plus salary that required working on Shabbat), my wife has had a miscarriage, and both my parents and inlaws are against me. We moved to a religious neighborhood, and the neighbors are suspicious and standoffish. Why is my life so difficult? Hashem doesn't give me a rest - one test leads to another. I feel like He's displeased with me and I'm about to crack. Please give me some urgent advice and/or encouragement. With appreciation, Menachem from USA Dear Menachem, Imagine that you get thrown out of bed at 3:30 AM by a drill instructor with the growl of a Doberman. With one eye open, you get loaded up with equipment on your back that weighs almost as much as you do, and then get sent up in a C-130 to an elevation of a couple thousand feet over the cold wintry ocean in early March. The side door of the plane opens, and another sergeant kicks you in the seat of your pants. Before you know it, you're in limbo on your way down to the chilling waters in a parachute. You smack the water and you're sure your heart will stop beating. Here's where the "fun" starts - now you have to cut loose from your chute and swim six miles back to shore... Grueling? That's the morning routine of a naval commando in training. The commanders make him suffer, for that strengthens him. Sure, his life is excruciating, with test after test, but he's the most respected and well-loved soldier in the armed forces. He's the one that will be called upon to perform all types of missions behind enemy lines, for he's the one that has the best chance of success. The commanders are confidant that he'll make it back to base. Baalei Tshuva are Hashem's commandos and very favorite sons. Hashem puts them through grueling tests because He knows they are capable of tremendous achievement. Hashem throws them behind enemy lines - in Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Alabama, Australia, Kibbutz Degania or Hong Kong, for he knows that they'll find their way back to Torah. Hashem tests their faith every single day. Hashem puts them through tribulations that would break another person's back. Why? He gives them the strength and potential to cope. You are one of them. King David says (Psalms 11:5), "Hashem tests the righteous." He gives difficulties, trials and tribulations to those that He loves, for their ultimate benefit. The tough training builds the best commandos. Hold on, Menachem - the more you develop your faith, the more you'll realize that your difficulties are not only for your very best, but they also help atone for all of Israel and thus hasten the full redemption of our people. You have my guarantee that you are one of Hashem's commandos and favorite sons. The thought that I may be experiencing what Rabbi Lazer speaks of here is encouraging to me. I hate it, but I'm willing to accept what is given if it means it's growing in me good things and strengthening me (though I really don't want to know what might require this kind of strength). There are more things going on than what I've written about concerning yesterday, but that was enough. Honestly, I'm tired of the constant "never catching a break". I've been listening to some old CD's lately - mostly Chris Rice and Rich Mullins. I like in one of the Chris Rice songs how he says in Naive "I believe You hold an exclamation point for every question mark." And One of Those Days was constantly going through my mind yesterday. *sigh* Shabbat Shalom and may you all be blessed abundantly. |
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