The H Factor

There's a way that everybody else is doing things, and then there's your life…people may make comments, or relay information about others, or you may encounter ideas or images. These may touch on a sore spot, and throw you into negative emotions of jealousy, anger, self-pity, or criticism of others, usually your spouse or kids, and they are not aligning with your perceived ideal of reality. 

But what is reality? 

So far most of what we just described is a view with one thing lacking: recognition of Hashem.

"Reality" is the way Hashem is orchestrating your life. Every detail. Every moment. Every time. 

Now watch what happens when you plug the "H" Factor into the above sentence: 

There's a way that everybody else is doing things…and then there's the way that Hashem is running your life…and many times people make comments, or relay information about others, or you encounter ideas or images. These may touch on a sore spot and throw you into jealousy, anger, self-pity, or criticism of your spouse and kids because they are not aligning with your ideal of reality…only because you forgot, or did not know, that Hashem is running your life.

Hashem deliberately puts those messengers in your path to see how you will handle it: Will you apply the emuna you have been learning and teaching to your OWN life? 

Living with the Awareness of Orchestration replaces the perceived randomness with the actual order that all the events of your life are following. 

Appreciating this fact and the many details (whether you like them or not) lead you to connect them all to the One Source. 

Taking this appreciation from thought to practice is the articulation of emuna by way of Gratitude, an effort to thank Hashem for each blessing and commodity as a gift, without a sense of entitlement.                                                                           

We extend that effort a step further and thank Hashem for the unpleasant things in our life.

This is where the practical application of emuna comes in. Thanks for the good is a basic obligation. Thanks for the way things are going beyond our goals, wants and desires is a product of emuna. They too are coming from the same Loving Father in Heaven who always has our best interest in mind. Unlike us, He's not selfish and has a perfectly complete and wide view of the world–past, present and future. Not only does He know what we want, but also more importantly, He knows what we NEED. Sometimes the two are not the same.

Sometimes the Creator temporarily takes the things we take for granted out of our lives. This is not a punishment, per se, but a way of showing that He exists and wants us to know that. A person feels more love, appreciation and happiness when aware that what he receives is not owed to him but is rather given as a gift. Giving is a true expression of love when you want to give and don’t have to. Hashem wants us to know He is giving because He WANTS to, so for this He reminds us that we are not owed anything. Sometimes this reminder is unpleasant, but it is for a purpose and a very good reason–to make us aware of Hashem's LOVE for us all along.