Torah Thought - Fear and Love of God - The Same
This past weeks Parsha said that all that Hashem wants is to fear him. Oh that is all! It sounds so .....well anyone can do it! Can that be? What is this fear? What is more the Rabbi's teach us that the fulfillment of the ultimate expression of fear of god is love of God! What is it talking about? How much time do we have? I can't spend a lot now.
In the end of the day, fear of God is an awareness of the reality of God's existence and what the implications are of that - God's yoke of expectations of how we are to develop ourselves; psychologically, emotionally, spiritually as we are charged with a sacred mission of being holy - bringing God's love and light into the world through our refinement.
Along with the awareness of God is a recognition of reality that includes both all the constant gifts and resources (life itself) that we are continuously bequeathed, for no good reason other than God's care, love and concern and at the same time an incredible responsibility to utilize these gifts and resources for our a sacred purpose and personal mission; to the extent a realization that there are real consequences for not being all you could be with all that you have been given.
I love Hashem for everything I have in my life - It is so awesome his love, trust and gifts - that it becomes incumbent upon me to raise myself up and utilize everything in its proper fashion -both for expanding God's glory, light and love in the world and at the same time transforming myself in the image of God - Anything less than that accomplishment for ourselves is not good enough.
That's why there are consequences - The master loves us and wants greatness for us.
Just like - Rabbi Orlowek's definition of love is if it's important to you, it's important to me and that attitude is now the foundation and operating system upon which the whole relationship rests and is built upon so too - the awareness and recognition of God and all that goes a long with it (fear of God) is the foundation upon which our entire relationship with God ( and all the Mitzvot) are built upon
Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment