Blasting Out of a Rut

We’ve all had that feeling of the downfall after being on a spiritual high. Sometimes we feel like we’ve been living the Emuna, and then suddenly we’re lost. What can we do in such times? The secret lies in helping others.

Back in my IDF army days I was a lone soldier, without my family, and just knowing basic Hebrew, my connection to Hashem grew exponentially out of the mere fact that I really needed His help literally every minute of the day. But one thing that I quickly noticed was that when I would pray for my fellow soldiers in the unit, and not just for myself, things just went so much better. There was less arguing, less complaining and a lot more of a team effort at play. You my friend can use the same principle in your own daily life.

Are things not going the way you want in your family, or at work? Try this simple tip, start praying for help for no less than 10 minutes a day, you’ll see amazing results, but be consistent – everyday, no cheating. Now listen to this friend, there’s an even greater tip that I want to share with you. Do you want joy in your life? Do you want to feel that Hashem is with you? Do you need to reignite your Judaism? Great, start by spreading Emuna! We can get so tied down into a schedule that leaves little room for spontaneity in our lives. If you feel the same way, you need to be spreading Emuna, it’s very easy to do and extremely rewarding.

By making an investment in instilling hope, encouragement and Torah adherence amongst our brothers, one is fulfilling Hashem’s greatest desire in the world. He wants His creations to know Him, and thank Him. Now it’s great if you are keeping Torah, but what about all your non-religious family members, neighbors and friends who are on cruise control in life? Someone like you who has seen the beauty of Emuna and is trying to live it, now needs to take the initiative and help these people, who else will? It’s a responsibility Hashem gave you!

It is the most gratifying experience you might have in your life. I know someone who recently bought a large amount of the Gems series books, like “Believe in Your Power” and has been passing them out all over Jerusalem. Soldiers, senior citizens and sick people at the hospital have all benefited from these miracle books. You never know what one book or one CD might bring forth. Maybe you’ll prevent a suicide, a divorce, or just help a person become more overall satisfied with their life. Rabbi Shalom Arush says that each book or CD takes away another enemy rocket.  It’s all up to you, we’ve heard the expressions of tikkun olam (correcting the world) and bringing light to the nations, but how does that apply to our lives? The answer is in spreading Emuna, and anyone including you and your family can do it.

I’ll give you an example and maybe a push for you and your family. When you come to Israel on vacation, I’m giving you homework, make an investment of a few hundred Gems books and park yourselves at any of the major Central Bus Stations here in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings are the busiest. I want you to go there and just start going up to soldiers and say thank you for their service and hand them an emuna CD or Gems book. Don’t worry if it’s in English or Hebrew. In fact the English versions might arouse even more interest for them, since most people in the army would love to learn or improve their English. So why not do it with Emuna?  Do this at least once in your life and don’t put it off. Leave the camel riding aside and do something everlasting.

Our soldiers go through intense emotional and physical wear and tear that you wouldn’t notice at first glance in their beautiful uniforms. But when they are going to bed at night, on the borders and doing guard shifts looking into Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan or Syria you are giving them a protective shield that no money or weapon can buy.

Whether you take this advice or not isn’t the point, but the message is that if you are trying to blast out of a rut, do something that you don’t “have to” for other people and Hashem will do something He doesn’t have to for you and your life. What better way to start getting ready for Rosh Hashanah then to bring mankind to its ultimate purpose. Take the next step, put yourself out there, smile and change the world.