If we spend the time we waste in sighing for the perfect golden fruit
in fulfilling the conditions of its growth,
happiness will come,
must come.
It is guaranteed in the very laws of the universe.
If it involves some chastening and renunciation,
well, the fruit will be all the sweeter for this touch of holiness.
-Helen Keller
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed. It was the experience of mystery— even if mixed with fear— that engendered religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, our perceptions of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty, which only in their most primitive forms are accessible to our minds: it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute true religiosity. In this sense, and only this sense, I am a deeply religious man.
-Albert Einstein
“Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value
than the most talented hypocrite.”
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I recently read about the high crime rate in South Africa, something about 50 murders a day and 1 rape every minute! There were many theories for the reason behind such a condition, as the world seems to be perplexed in explaining to its own mind why this could be happening, what with the peace many experience in their own suburbs, away from those crimes, away from such dreaded darkness of the soul.
Yet can we really separate ourselves from everything that’s been happening? Can we always put the blame somewhere else saying unto ourselves we have nothing to do with it all?
There is a message our deafened ears need to be hearing, a message saying that when something as dark as this is happening, we should take a look and consider if we might be missing out on something. Is there something we should have been doing that we have failed to do?
How can the very rich co-exist with the poorest of the poor and still deem himself holy while doing nothing for the sake of his brother?
Seems a bit shocking, but in my country this seems to be the case. For while beggars roam the streets for food or for whatever garbage to scavenge, the rich proudly and comfortably ride their luxurious cars, making their way every Sunday to Church to attend a mass where they proclaim their holiness as though they and they alone are God’s children, seeing not what suffering his brother is going through.
Each of us must illuminate and warm our surroundings. In this cold world we cannot suffice with warming ourselves by donning a fur coat. We must light a fire warming everyone around us.- Rabbi Simon Jacobson