Waking up each day, we start off on the next leg of the journey of life. Each day contains elements of that which happened in the past and many of us feel that one day blends into the next. Yet, each day is a new beginning, another opportunity to do new things or bring newer attitudes to that which might seem monotonous.
Rebbe Nachman tied in the notion of faith with waking up each morning, saying:
יט. עַל־יְדֵי אֱמוּנָה מְחַדְּשִׁין הַמֹּחַ, שֶׁהוּא הַנְּשָׁמָה, בִּשְׁעַת שֵׁנָה. וְזוֹכִין לְקַבֵּל עַל־יְדֵי הַשֵּׁנָה שֵׂכֶל חָדָשׁ וּנְשָׁמָה חֲדָשָׁה מֵאוֹר הַפָּנִים: (לק”א סי’ ל”ה אות ג’ ד’ ה’)
When a person is asleep he enters the category of “faith”, and this refreshes his intellect, which is the manifestation of his soul. The refreshment a person gains from sleeping can help him to attain new levels of religious awareness and perception of God. He can actually receive a new soul from the light of God’s countenance (35:3-5).
The epitome of faith is found in the state of sleep, the state that allows the soul to reconnect without the constraints of the physical. This opportunity affords us the chance to awaken with a new sense of perspective in life. Too often we all believe once we walk along a certain path we do not have the chance to veer off and do something new. By recognizing that each day is a fresh start, even in the midst of outwardly doing the same tasks from the day before, we can find new levels of spiritual growth.
May each of us work toward seeing all aspects of life, from the awake state to the sleep state, as opportunities for enhancing our faith and growing in our spirituality.
Are you struggling with your spiritual growth? Faith? Feeling lost in the midst of the journey of life? Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com
New beginnings: A blog about spirituality, chaplaincy and renewal 