“Often we find it easier to think our way around things rather than to feel our way through them: What can we do to pull ourselves out of a bad mood? What can we buy, remove, or repair that will reduce or solve a loved one’s anger or sadness?

In retrospect, I realize I have spent many hours problem solving emotional facts I just needed to feel. I know now that my frequent labors to understand what went wrong, while somewhat useful, often were distractions from feeling the sadness and disappointment necessary to heal and move on.”

How do we navigate sadness and disappointment in our lives without distracting ourselves from those legitimate feelings, AND at the same time not go to the place of pity? Someone I was discussing this with suggested gratitude. We need to allow ourselves to feel sadness and disappointment without rushing to get away from them or figuring out how to “fix” them- but instead be grateful they are there. Something I learned this morning that I am working to place in the tabernacle of my body.

Ok: let’s get to today’s portion;

We move from inside the tabernacle to Hashem’s instructions for the courtyard around the tabernacle.

My first thought here is how do we surround ourselves? What do we put in the courtyards of our spheres of life? Are these things in line with the tabernacle of our hearts? Or do they distract us from focusing there?

The instructions are pretty clear; set up curtains to the south and north that are 20 cubits long; then to the east and west curtains that are 50 cubits long. On the Easter side there is an entrance of 20 cubits.

My takeaway here is setting up boundaries for ourselves.

And that’s it for this weeks Parsha! Pretty short but vitally deep. How is the tabernacle of your soul set up? Add your thoughts below.