The most exciting and beautiful thing in life is the awakening of our beings. Our early childhood development represents a successive awakening of our beings, joyful experiences, love, gratitude, satisfaction, excitement, and inexplicable experiences of beauty.
Over time, we often relegate the awesome experiences of childhood to immaturity, as though feelings alone dance to the music of innocence. Yet, the human soul, in the childlike state, knows little to no fear or insecurity, only playfulness and dependency on a father’s and mother’s love.
History retains plenty of stories of an awakened spirit; one is the story of Zacchaeus (Hebrew Zakkai), Luke 19. Zacchaeus was a wealthy businessman who took advantage of others. However, one fine day Zak realized an awakening of beauty within himself. His soul transformed into compassion and virtue. His savior said, “Life has come to this house today” (Luke 19:9).
Our identity is the key to our awakened being, not what we feel about ourselves, but who we are. Not hoping for more virtue in our world, but being true to the virtue of our being. Zak acted; he confronted his grim reality, and rather than being “successful,” influential, and making money as his core pursuit, he found a more profound identity.
Each one of us defines what it means to be human by how we live each moment. Every moment, eight billion people define what “human” means.
Since 2019, while working on the AHAV Bible and hearing about escalating uncertainties in the world, the reality of the lack of virtue in the world became even more profoundly important. The value and importance of honor, nobility, and virtue are essential for ensuring a prosperous future for humanity.