Emuna... Faith

I want to start this blog with the essence, I believe, of why I want to share the thoughts and understandings of this spiritual journey... Faith. In Hebrew it is Emuna. What a beautiful language Hebrew is, it is Lashon Kodesh, or the Holy tongue.

I want to provide a quote from R. Shalom Arush, as translated by Lazer Brody, from the book, The Garden of Emuna, A practical guide to life.
" Let's take a look around us; as soon as we get past the 'mask', the plastic smiles and the cosmetic facade that people hide behind, we almost always find that our neighbors, friends, and relatives all have a generous portion of hardship, pain, and suffering. Even the enormously successful- the glamorous, the rich, and the famous- live nightmarish lives that often terminate in bankruptcy, broken marriages, substance addition, and suicide. All the fame and fortune in the world- when devoid of emuna- is non other than a dismal, dead-end path. Emuna provides a reason for everything on earth. Emuna is the only effective consolation for the pain and sorrow that we all encounter from time to time. HaShem (the Lord) doesn't want to torment us, Heaven forbid, but to stimulate our soul-searching and tshuva, or penitence- for our own benefit- to add meaning to our lives and to correct our souls. With a genuine reason for living, life takes on a whole new dimension of purpose and lasting gratification. With a corrected soul, we can achieve true happiness."

This what I am pursuing at this time.

We've all heard, " you just gotta have faith!" Is it possible, that many say this and do not possess it themselves? I think it is possible. It is so easy to say and not do, I can say this, being guilty of it from time to time over the years.

I believe, if we can come to the 'ownership' of the fact, that everything comes from our Father in Heaven, everything, then we can truly begin to make repentance, and overcome the challenges we find in our lives, with a righteous attitude.

I don't come to this blog , knowing and teaching, I come to it learning and sharing!