Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 9 Iyar, 5785
24th Day of the Omer

Good morning! Today we are focusing on the “Compassion of Endurance.”  The idea here is the “heart” of why we are enduring. Are we merely enduring in order to survive? Or do we have a greater, heartfelt purpose for enduring? For taking another step?

I wrote this last year, and it seems really salient:

The takeaway for me is when I get so focused on my determination and quest for victory will it compromise my compassion for others? That is where a re-orientation is needed.  We can strive to endure. We can strive for victory, but if I lose compassion for myself and others? The victory won’t be as meaningful.

How can we have compassion in our endurance for others? Especially those who it may be hard to generate compassion for? Especially if that someone is within us? I find it difficult to generate self-compassion at times. If I am enduring – how can I pause and feel into my heart with compassion?

If we are in a situation that requires endurance – like working in a difficult situation, in a difficult friendship, or with difficult circumstances – can we ask ourselves, “Why is this happening FOR me? What am I meant to learn from enduring it?”

The challenge from Chabad is this: Be patient and listen to someone that usually makes you impatient

This. Can we be patient and listen, even when we are feeling impatient?

These are my thoughts. What are yours?

Here are my thoughts from last year:

Good morning! Today is day 24 of the Omer! We are looking at the compassion of endurance.  From Chabad:

Healthy endurance, directed to develop good qualities and modifying bad ones, will always be compassionate. The compassion of endurance reflects a most beautiful quality of endurance: an enduring commitment to help another grow. Endurance without compassion is misguided and selfish. Endurance needs to be not just loving to those who deserve love, but also compassionate to the less fortunate. Does my determination compromise my compassion for others? Am I able to rise above my ego and empathize with my competitors? Am I gracious in victory?

Exercise for the day: Be patient and listen to someone that usually makes you impatient

The takeaway for me is when I get so focused on my determination and quest for victory it compromises my compassion for others? That is where a re-orientation is needed.  We can strive to endure. We can strive for victory, but if I lose compassion for myself and others? The victory won’t be as meaningful.

How can we have compassion in our endurance for others? Especially those who it may be hard to generate compassion for? Especially if that someone is within us? I find it difficult to generate self-compassion at times. If I am enduring – how can I pause and feel into my heart with compassion?