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3 Elul 5765 - September 7, 2005 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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KEEP SMILING
by Avrohom Tzvi Schwartz

Ovinu Malkeinu — Our Father, Our King Love + Fear = Happiness

Here is a formula to think over: Love + Fear = Happiness. Our real happiness comes from trying our best — doing, thinking, saying all we can. But, together with doing, is a "feeling," an "emotion" — an attitude that accompanies us along the way. Which attitude should we adopt as we strive to do our best? Seemingly, the best choice is love. To do with love is to do more. To do with love is to give more — more of ourselves, more of our energy, more of our hopes. But to live only with love is like walking a tightrope — we may easily fall from it. For when we act with love, we are tempted to think, "Surely I have proved myself; surely, I have shown my dedication — now I can rest." This, however, is a mistake. For, in truth, not from love do we speak these words, but from laziness — from a desire to rest, to relax - - from a wish to sit amongst the butterflies and do nothing. So, we need another emotion, another attitude. This is fear. We must be afraid that our friend will tire of us, will walk away from us. Such a fear is a good fear, a healthy fear. It leads us to try harder, to do more, to be more. And together with love, it can lead us to every happiness and success.

 

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