Chayei Sarah

Live From A Purpose

In this weeks parsha we read “Avrohom was elderly; advanced in days”. This pasuk affords us an opportunity for insight on how Avrohom used each day of his life to best advantage. By extension, we learn how we are to use our own days and how to prepare use for Alom Habaah.

On the one hand, we cannot openly perceive G-dliness in this world. By contrast, in the World to Come, the souls are said to to bask in the radiance of the Divine Presence. Souls do perceive G-dliness. On the other hand, what the souls perceive in heaven is only the radiance of the Divine Presence – not G-d Himeslf.

Nevertheless it is important to realize that Hashems main intent is to have a dwelling place in these lower realms. That is, Hashem created the universe not for the sake of heaven – even though He allows His G-dliness to shine forth there in an open manner, as we have said – but in order that , even in this very lowerst of all worlds where G-dliness seems utterly hidden, He should nonetheless be able to express Himself un restrainedly without reservation or concealment at all as though He were “at home”.

Each and every day, a person has a certain amount of spiritual progress to make. Torah study and mitzvah observance in this world are necessary prerequisites for the soul to achieve its potential for spiritual enlightenment in the World to Come. This is what is meant by the statement that the “days” of this life form “garments” which the soul will need in heaven; each and every day, a person has a certain amount of spiritual progress to make, so that over the course of his or her life, he or she will have fully “clothed” the soul. And that is the allusion of the statement that Abraham was “advanced in days” ; he fully utilized his days to maximum spiritual potential, creating a complete garment for his soul.

Our purpose is to study Torah and perform Mitzvot in this world so that we can actually unite with G-d’s very self. Thus, each world has an advantage in its own way.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word purpose as:
1. the object towards which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or goal.
2. A result or an effect that is intended or desired. An intention…
3. Determination, resolution (from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Third Edition. Houghton Miffline Company, Boston. Mass.)

Having a succinct statement of your overall purpose in life can be a huge help in determining what you want. Your purpose is an umbrella, something that is big enough to include all that you want in life – everything that you want to have, do and be.

An effective purpose statement tells you when goals or behaviors are off track. With your purpose firmly in mind, you can make moment-to-moment choices with clarity and integrity.

In coaching we write one-sentence statements of our purpose in life based on questions like:
· What am I striving for?
· What is the aim or goal of my life?
· What am I deteremined to resolve or achieve in my life?

We run small group sessions to gain more insight and creative input from each other, giving everyone the option of reading their purpose statements out loud.

Are you ready to experiment with living with a purpose, on purpose, moment-to-moment?
Write to Chaya info@coachchaya.com to find out about the informational and group sessions we are now offering.