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Today is my dad’s 55th birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy Sorry I outed you. He’s hanging out with my mom, my brother, his wife, and my niece and nephew. I’m missing it. I had the opportunity to talk to him on the phone this evening and it just put a smile on my face to be in on the plans that he didn’t know about. That got me thinking of the simplest things that make me happy.

• Planning a surprise - Nothing like planning for someone else’s happiness. It just stirs up the joy in my soul.
• Walking outside with no shoes - Preferrably on grass or sand, but I’ll take concrete. I get a sense of freedom when I walk barefoot. I take every opportunity I can.
• Being naked - No, not outside But I get the same free feeling.
• Kisses - When we were younger, I called my brother a kiss-ka-dee because he loved to kiss so much. His son is just like that now. Kisses make me melt, and again, they cost nothing.
• Hugs - Touch is an important part of life. Did you know that premature babies who were touched gained 50% more weight than the ones that weren’t? [Source] Hugs are the grown up equivalent, and they are essential to a happy, healthy life. (So says me )
• Giving and receiving compliments - These bad boys don’t cost a thing, but they are so intoxicating. I used to be stingy with compliments, mostly because I was afraid of what people would think. Lately, I’ve gotten liberal. When I give a compliment I just love the moment that the smile starts spreading across the other person’s face.
• Holding the door for someone - I understand that door holding is usually the guy’s domain, but I just love holding the door for people. Especially when they’re carrying a million things. I feel like it’s an invitation to a conversation.
• Looking at the ocean - I get an sense of awe when I look at the ocean. I definitely feel like I’m a part of a grand thing.
• Singing along - I love lyrical music just because I can sing along. Doesn’t matter the song, as long as I know the words, I’m in seventh heaven.

So, what are some of the simple things that make you happy?

In Spirit,
Nneka

Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. In all but a few denominations, he is considered the great exception. The one who made it. The one that was the only son of God. The one endowed with special powers that no one else possessed before or will ever again.

Problem is that Jesus himself said that he was the great example. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…” (John 14:12)

So, what would be different for you if Jesus were a mentor or big brother rather than a member of the elite? Would you approach life differently? What if you knew that the person next to you possessed the same amount of the Divinity that Jesus did? Would you treat them differently?

We’ve come to the final installation in the discussion of the book Open Secrets. The book is written by Rabbi Rami Shapiro from the perspective of an elder Jewish mystic. Over the past six weeks, we’ve explored several themes in the book including:

• The Nature of God
• Necessary and Unnecessary Evil
• Free Will
• Religion and Spirituality
• How to Find the Truths in Religion

Rami Shapiro also talks about everyday ideas like Jewish customs, intermarriage, and Isreal. There’s a heap in this tiny book (128 pages) that I was not able to bring to light during these discussions. If you’re interested in learning more about the Jewish faith or exploring the metaphysical side of Judaism, I urge you to pick up a copy.

In the late chapters of Open Secrets, the protege writes to the elder Rabbi to inquire about Jesus. Having moved to the U.S. from Russia after the war, the protege is confronted with the belief in Jesus from a Christian perspective. In the book, the elder Rabbi says that Christians need to believe in Jesus to bridge the idea of a sinless God to a sinning human. Jesus is that bridge. He explains that since Jewish people do not believe in sin, there is no need to believe in Jesus. While I think that’s a bit harsh, I think the idea of Jesus as the way to God has permeated Christianity. So much so that people have forgotten their connection to the Divine.

The Rabbi goes on to say that while Jewish people do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, he believes that Jesus was one of the great saints. He was able to penetrate Neshamah (the ego) and live from Chayyah (Spirit). In that respect, he considers him a great teacher and example.

In the book, the Rabbi tells this story. Two beautiful women who are identical twins appear before you, but they are both covered in layers of veils. They are unrecognizable. Slowly, one of the women begin to remove her veils. You begin to see the beauty in that twin, but you can’t tell what the other one looks like. Is the twin without the veils anymore beautiful than the one that hasn’t taken them off?

What if you could remove your veils and reveal the Divine that is within you?

In Spirit,
Nneka