A Chapter on Redemption – well worth the read
By zevi770 · January 22, 2012
Chapter 2 Redemption From What?
Wisdom
But what exactly do we need redemption from?
From being trapped in the darkness of the material world, which obscures our search for meaning.
From a listless and aimless life.
From our doubts and fears.
G-d created each of us with a Divine spark, that when cultivated allows us to illuminate the darkness and move foreword.
How does one cultivate this spark?
By recognizing the strength within your soul.
By rising above your ego and acknowledging an absolute force that is far greater than yourself.
By being a giving person and leading a virtuous life.
And above all, by realizing that amidst the darkness there is indeed a light to be found, which will instill every act of virtue with infinite meaning.
Wisdom
Redemption is not an event that happens at the end of our life on earth; it is a cumulative process that begins at the outset of our lives, and every act of goodness brings us one step closer to completing the process.
Redemption means an end to darkness and confusion; it means a time of harmony.
Is redemption a miracle?
No.
It is the way things were always meant to be.
But how can we be sure we will be redeemed?
After all, when we look around, the world seems quite far from redemption.
Selfishness and darkness abound.
The answer, of course, is that G-d told us it would be so.
Wisdom
Ask yourself a simple question: Why do you strive to live a meaningful life?
Why aren’t you comfortable living only for yourself, thinking of nothing but your own needs and desires?
We are driven by a paradox, a force created by the pull of two opposites: our body, which represents the material universe, and our soul, which represents the spiritual universe.
Everything about our existence is marked by this dichotomy.
We live in a world that is imperfect and yet we strive for perfection.
We live a life full of pain and difficulty and yet we strive for peace and harmony.
The same is true on a collective and global scale.
From the beginning of time, people have invested their hearts and minds to make life a little bit better.
We have created new political and economic systems, we have pursued education and enlightenment, we have developed industry and enterprise – all in search of a more perfect society.
Notwithstanding the extreme differences among races, nations, and beliefs people across the globe – six billion and counting are looking for a better life.
In a word we are all looking for redemption.
Do not be intimidated by the word Redemption. Redemption is not necessarily a religious or spiritual matter.
Redemption means freedom – freedom from the boundaries that confine the human spirit.
To be redeemed means to be freed from a tyrannical regime; to be freed from a dangerous habit or an abusive situation; to be freed from the fear within ourselves and the confusion that clouds our vision.
So we are looking for redemption, whether we use that word or not.
Some of us experience brief bursts of freedom but more often than not we resign ourselves to lives without such light or clarity.
The chains of our existence seem too formidable.
We are in a state of confinement, of exile; the shackles of the material world confine us in darkness.
Wisdom
How do you free yourself?
By acknowledging that you were created by God – in G-d’s image – and are therefore inherently good.
By realizing that you come from a higher place than this limited world; that your mission on earth is not merely to use the material world for your own satisfaction, but to refine and civilize it through virtuous acts.
Yes. It can be difficult to find meaning in this dark world.
Believing in G-d and experiencing G-d is a process that takes much time and effort.
But the first step is a simple one: Before you can escape the darkness you must acknowledge it.
Before you can leave your state of exile you must realize that you indeed dwell there.