Don’t break it, open it.

The same hole one makes can be intended to break something or it can be intended to open something.  Think sealed barrel.  

For all too long the messaging we’ve received has been to break ourselves in the process of self control and betterment.  Perhaps the message ought to be to open ourselves instead?

Joseph faces tremendous temptation from Potiphar (his new masters) wife.  Joseph is tempted and is about to give in when he sees his fathers visage.  He reminds himself that it is not the temptation he years for but his father.

We all yearn to fill our voids.  We all are tempted and sometimes engage in behaviors that temporarily fill the void.  Filling the void in that manner doesn’t make us bad, it makes us real people with real hurts and voids that we are trying to fill.  

What Joseph’s story teaches us is that if we reframe yearnings to see what it is we really are missing in our lives, we can then bring some healing.  

Deep down each of us have a powerful reservoir of Divine energy that if we release it will flow and fill the missing parts in us.

Let’s not break ourselves, let’s open ourselves up for what is really inside of us. 

Good Shabbos!

Ps. I hope to see you at the Chanukah celebrations next week.  Beginning Sunday at 4 PM in Virginia Highland.  

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