A colleague of mine met an older gentleman in a store in the Spring of 2020 when COVID had just started. The man who was wearing a veteran's hat and looked well into his eighties, was somewhat frail, but seemed to be cheerful and happy as he went about his shopping.
My colleague asked the man how is he able to be so happy when the COVID pandemic is raging and life has got to be very tough for them and the headlines each day are so sad and terrible. The gentleman responded that every day he wakes up in the morning and decides how he is going to make his own HEADLINES, as he decides what nice thing he is going to do that day to brighten the light of his frail wife, or something good that they can do together.
He explained that by creating his own HEADLINES, he was able to stay positive, focused, and productive in making good things happen in his life and in the lives of those he loved or connected with.
HOW TO BE A SHINING STAR
Thousands of years ago, Abraham was told by G-d, that his descendants would be like the stars of the heaven. It is understood to be a blessing that his offspring will be numerous like the stars of the heaven which is now something we can understand more than ever.
Yet on a deeper level, it represents something much more powerful, and it is both a blessing and a mandate to his descendants to each become like a star that illuminates the dark night and provide a sense of direction and navigation.
This blessing is a reminder that each and every one of us have the power to become a true star, not a political or Hollywood star, but a star that walks and breathes light wherever they go, even if it is dark and challenging out there.
Simply by living a life of purpose, meaning, depth, Mitzvot, kindness and empathy, we each become a walking shining star for the world around us.
As the never ending stream of dramatic headlines hit us from every side, the old gentleman's message that we need to create our headlines, along with G-d's blessing to Abraham, that we each become like a star, are powerful ideas to be mindful of and tune into, so that we are truly illuminating the night, by being bright shining lights of goodness and kindness.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel