A couple months ago I decided to take a class on Jewish meditation at the Chabad Intown. With very little knowledge of what I was stepping into, I signed up online after a fortuitous run-in with Rabbi Sollish on the Beltline when I was able to ask him if the class was open to non-Jews. I have to admit, I kinda jumped out at him as he exited Kroger and caught him off-guard – not something folks are used to post-COVID – but after his initial surprise he assured me that the Chabad classes are open to the public and welcomed me wholeheartedly to join.

What I enjoyed most about the class (besides the fact that it was the first in-person class since the pandemic hit) was the playful way everyday issues are questioned and turned over then overlaid onto our daily lives in a way designed to bring more joy and unity with the Divine.

It was a relief to be in an atmosphere where everyday seeking of something deeper in life was not seen as suspicious or worthy of judgement but as part of our calling as humans. Our very nature is about service and seeking integration and moving towards unity with the Divine.

What particularly struck me was how similar Chabad-Lubavitch is to many forms of Native American spirituality and cosmology. The belief that G-d is in every action and everything we see around us validates our direct connection at all times. Joy is our birthright and is enhanced by this connection. Laws then, are created to support us in living a more G-dly life aware, connected, and free. Meditation is a form of prayer that keeps us close to the Divine and grounds us into both our human and our spiritual embodiment here on Earth. As an action-oriented religion, performing mitzvot creates the basis of a well-lived life. Living in this way demands that we are active participants in life. Remaining conscious honors G-d.

As I re-order my life, I realize how important it is to begin by clearly stating my values as they pertain to my work in the world. I’ve faced many situations where failure to understand my value system resulted in miscommunication/ misunderstandings when it came to other people understanding my choices. For me, every action, every choice is intentional and tied to an underlying harmonic order because from a very young age I realized that growth involves taking personal responsibility for the things I do and say. And it’s not just me, it’s the people who come after me who I must also consider. It doesn’t mean I always get things perfect, but it does create a structure to my life that was able to form without other people influencing my choices or behavior. It means I filter things through a long-term, consequence-based lens rather than thinking, what is the fastest path towards gratification?

It’s not a popular way to think and it may make me seem overly conservative to some, but this method has set up an extremely pleasant life on a bedrock of happiness, even during challenging times.

When I started writing this list I reflected on earlier spiritual teachings, the power behind writing things down, and the power of presence reflected in stating active states of being. As I move into this next cycle of life, clearly expressing my value system and aspirational compass will help me make even more intentional choices when faced with decisions regarding my work and friendships. For me, conscious contemplation and action are the jewels that light the path towards freedom.

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