Tag: handling crisis

Doing and Being in Times of Crisis

It’s funny. I find myself constantly saying things like, “The world is a crazy place.” But let’s face it, it is rare to have a day go by when there is not another crisis, another tragedy. Each day we seem to wake up wondering, “What will I see this time when I turn on the news, open up my phone, etc?” Over these past almost 6 weeks, I find myself thinking and reflecting on how we are able to handle these moments. I have tried to put into words (here and here) just the tip of the iceberg of the thoughts in my head.

Yesterday we showed up. This is an overhead view of The March for Israel that took place in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. It was reported that over 290,000 people showed up to be present. We came to express through our presence and voices that we will not sit quietly during this moment in time when Antisemitism and hate are once again sweeping the nation.

The rally got me reflecting on another aspect about coping and engaging during a crisis. Is it worth it to show up to a rally? Is this the right way to respond to a crisis? As far as I am concerned, the answer is YES! And yet, as I was scouring the internet, reading others’ thoughts, I was reminded of a clause in a verse from Zechariah (4:6):

לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit —said GOD of Hosts.

Some Rabbinic leaders have suggested that if we truly believe this prophetic verse, then our mission is not to take action but to put all of our faith in Gd and that prayer and Torah study (which would be study for the purpose of connecting to Gd, not for knowledge) suffice. For some, this is how best to deal with a crisis. We pray and we work on ourselves because the only one we can change is ourselves. Through making changes to our perspective we will see that things will change because we change. And while I can argue that there is some truth to this, I do think it is missing an important element.

To grapple with a crisis, we must confront it from all different angles. Strengthening and drawing on our faith is just part of the mission. We are also responsible to try to do things which we believe might have an effect in overcoming the crisis moment. If we take the rally from yesterday as an example, or any of the other rallies we have seen over the years, showing up was the doing. None of us can know or predict if the needle will shift as a result. Yet, if nobody showed up, then most likely there would be no chance for change.

Part of coping with a crisis is finding moments of taking control back in our lives. Control is a strange thing. Deep down, we know none of us is really ever in control and yet we are always trying to hold on to control. At the same time, we cannot live life just waiting for life to happen. We must work to live a life of doing the things we can to continue constructing the road we are travelling on, one step at a time.

As we continue to grapple and struggle with all we are feeling and experiencing in these challenging times, may we find the fortitude to continue taking steps to confront the baseless and abject hate all around us. May we find a renewed strength in our faith and trust that if we do our part, the outcomes will be for a brighter day tomorrow.

If you or someone you know is struggling, spiritually and/or emotionally, trying to find a sense of meaning in these times of struggle, know that you are not alone. Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com

Reflections on how to deal with Crisis

So often in life, we plan and Gd laughs. So often in life we are on a path only to be diverted due to outside forces. I had wished to spend time reflecting on the recently completed Jewish Holidays, considering things gained and learned during those three weeks of reflection, introspection and celebration. Yet, since Saturday, Oct. 7, which coincided with the end of the holidays, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, anything I thought about sharing has felt trite.

The sheer barbarism that occurred during the most joyful part of the fall Jewish holiday season cannot be put into words. What Hamas did to my brethren in Israel, which truthfully by extension was to all of us, was devastating to so many of us. And so, even now, I am writing words that feel so hollow, yet write I must, because this is my outlet.

The post I wanted to write would have focused on celebrating the opportunities to reflect. It would have been on how Yom Kippur gives us the time to recognize how easily it is to fall short and at the same time how easy it can be to get back on course. I would have written about how our Sukkot this year was a beautiful week of joy, celebration, community and learning. And yet, all this was shattered.

Instead, I can write the post about how the Jewish community in Israel and around the world faced crisis head on and did not fall victim to fear. I can share that people from all over have gathered to handle this latest blow through prayer and action. I can share that people are not allowing terror and hate overwhelm them but are instead facing it with resolve and strength.

When we face a crisis, each of us has many tools we can draw upon to deal with the challenges before us. I was fortunate to receive a document via email last week with a lesson on dealing with a crisis based on a story of David before he was king (Samuel 1 chapter 30 – see here). While most of us have a sense of this at the moment, I will nevertheless share with you the four pronged approach:

  1. Crying and sadness – We must allow ourselves to take the time to be honest to our sadness and pain. Bottling up these feelings will only have negative repercussions at some further point down the road.
  2. Emotional introspection – As a corollary to the first point, we experience a multiplicity of emotions in times of crisis. For myself, these past 9 days have been ones of worry, fear, resolve, hope, joy, sadness, and a host of other feelings, sometimes simultaneously. And that is OK as well. We can celebrate and also feel the pain and grief for those who were murdered in cold blood.
  3. Faith – For so many, this has been a week of increased prayer and religious resolve. For others, this has been a week of questioning and anger towards Gd. Both are signs of faith. Spirituality is a lifetime struggle. It is in these times when we confront Gd however we choose and hopefully find something within that struggle to help carry us forward.
  4. Action – What can I do to help? So often in crisis moments, people find that they can’t just watch from the sidelines. It is amazing what human resolve can do and what people can do to support one another.

As we continue to go through these terrible days, may we continue to have the strength to support each other and make sure we are also supporting ourselves.

If you or someone you know is struggling, spiritually or emotionally, trying to find a sense of meaning in times of struggle, know that you are not alone. Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com