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He finally arrived. After years of waiting. At the Kotel, the Western Wall, just feet from the Temple Mount, the holiest place in the world. To touch the stones, to place his note written with great thought, into its crevices. To pour out his heart to the A-lmighty in prayer and request. He was already emotional. And suddenly, there it was, in its full grandeur. The Wailing Wall.
He walked from the plaza toward the wall with his eyes transfixed, on the wall, time had stopped. He was never more focused. When suddenly he felt a tap and saw a hand. It was a request made in universal language, for charity. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar. The man wasn’t satisfied. Five dollars offered, and he begrudgingly accepted. It was only another few steps before the next beggar approached, who was only the introduction to the next beggar and the next. The sacred moment he had awaited for years, turned into frustration and anger in moments.
When suddenly he felt a warm hand around his shoulder. And with a smile, a friendly stranger shared, “I know, I’ve walked your walk.” You’re frustrated and angry. They ruined your moment. Actually, they didn’t. They created an opportunity.
You’re about to pray to G-d. To speak to Him in the deepest way you every spoke. To request of Him like you never have before. G-d saw you coming and He asked himself. How benevolent should I be to this man.” And G-d said, as G-d always says, “As benevolent as he will be to others.” G-d watches those beggars, giving you the opportunity to be benevolent in a most trying moment. Then He will follow suit, and do the same in return. The one difference, G-d’s benevolence in infinite.
G-d says to us, you begin. I’ll respond to you, the way you respond to others.
I prefer to simply call it Beginning Within.
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