God

The key to understanding ourselves lies within our children.  To look at them is to gain insight.  After all, they grow to embody the sensibilities and outlook that we possess, even if we do not acknowledge them.  This is one reason why our children have problems with God.  We do too.

‘God’ is one of those -- well, you know -- words that it is difficult to use unless we are swearing or giving birth.  That is not to say that we do not believe in God:  most Americans do have firm belief in God.  They even pray.  Occasionally.

Far more difficult is developing a sense of comfort with the idea of God.  One colleague has gone so far as to say that until a couple discusses belief in God they are not truly intimate.  Only when such a sensitive issue is shared without feeling embarrassed can people be said to be truly honest with each other.  Think of it.  There is truth here.

Children are receptacles for what spills over from our lives into theirs.  Our beliefs have a profound impact in forming their inner core values.  Feeling shy about God means they will have to infer what our true sentiments are.  Is it not disturbing that so many young Jews turn away from God and religion?  They get a sense that God is more mysterious and dangerous than any other taboo.

English only compounds the problem.  Christians have little difficulty in expressing their values in religious terms.  Jews, on the other hand, would rather worm their way out of saying things like, “God loves you.”  In Hebrew, it feels far less dangerous to utter.  The only problem is:  Nobody understands what they are saying.  You have heard the phrase, “Our Father Who Art in Heaven”?  Jewish words.  Comes from “Avinu Sh’Bashamayim”.  Or ”God loves you?”  We say it before the Shma every day.  We call it “Ahava Rabba”.

 A key factor in coming to terms with God is developing a comfort level with words.  I often urge people to speak aloud to God when praying from the heart.  It can be an awesome experience.  Most important is to find our deep-set belief and nourish it.

The Baal Shem Tov once said:  A young man wanted to learn the art of becoming a blacksmith.  He went to an older man seeking to become his apprentice.  Learning from his teacher, the boy was a quick study; he learned all the skills of the trade.  Going out on his own, however, the young man soon failed.  He returned to his teacher and asked what he was doing wrong.  The elder replied:  “You have all the information, all the tools, and you’ve mastered the techniques.  What remains is learn to kindle the spark.”