Imagine a border patrol and one day the government decides to let everyone in – no, this is not a political but a personal piece – then it finds some of the people who came in are terrorists, so what does it do? – it shuts down the border. – But sadly, there are still very nice people not allowed in. – The Alter Rebbe teaches, our heart is our border patrol, it determines who (or what) we let in. – When we are young (if life is secure) we have an open border policy – as the saying goes, “if you are not a liberal by the time you are twenty, you have no heart, but if you are not a conservative by the time your are thirty you have no head. – For as we get taken advantage of, as we see true evil – bullying etc. we are forced to recalculate. – Let me share with you a remarkable story – (it’s on youtube) a young boy witnessed the massacre (I think he was in a tree) of his entire town – parents, siblings etc. however even at that young age he said to himself, “Not all people are bad” – “I survived the war by going to German ladies and asking them for food.” – I never heard of such a thing! – It is absolutely unbelievable! – You see, when he went to these German women, who I am sure had been indoctrinated to hate Jews, yet by seeing them in a positive light, he evoked their compassion – and this is the critical thing to remember, as my friend Yuval just told me: when you walk into a room, you have a choice, you can either allow the energy of that room become yours, or you can light it up! – Yuval went through his fair share of ordeals, yet (remarkably) makes an active effort to be happy! – Wherever he goes, he lights up people’s rooms! – In other words, we must let go of our victim status! – Let go of our fears! For if you know that you can change the room, why on earth, let the room change you?!?