
In the end — Gamzul’tova
Sometimes it is extremely difficult to see that divine spark in everyone and believe “gam zu l’tova” (it’s all for the good), especially when people we love and trust descend into extremely negative, unhealthy, judgmental, rigid, and seemingly irrational thinking.
How could going through this and other interpersonal problems ever be for the best? How do we continue to see the Light in people in the face of intense hurtful behavior? The attitude that it’s all for the best in no way justifies atrocities; rather, the phrase gam zu l’tova is a personal spiritual attitude of acceptance.
Learning how to let go of unhealthy relationships and separate from unwholesome situations while, at the same time holding unconditional love is hard for me and most people. In working to let go of all disappointment. I’ve learned that I can control my thoughts and have the power to choose where I focus my energy.
I’ve learned that I can choose to simply move forward into the positive, into the ways that connect with that which is eternal, with love. Since none of us can control anyone else, it is best not to dwell on longing for things to be different.This can do this with the understanding that there is not something fundamentally wrong with either of us as well are all doing the best we can in our unique understanding and experience. It’s a journey; we must cross the darkness until we reach the light. Unconditional love also though requires me to hold out hope because nothing is beyond the Creator’s power. Unconditional love means allowing for the possibility that people can change, and relationships can heal.
To leave a situation often requires a leap of faith, but we are not alone in such times. In Plato’s Republic and that famous cave, the reflections on the wall were thought by the viewers as reality. If instead they had turned around, they would have seen that the reality was that they were seeing mere shadows of something that existed between the light and the wall. Sometimes, there is only so much we can learn in the place of comfort. The longer we wait, the more time we waste. When we take that leap, when we turn to face the light, marvelous things can open for us.
The path of ultimate truth, of righteousness, respect, joy, and wholeness is, above all else, an inner reality that transcends everything else. This is what we see in its shadow form as we go through our days hoping for approval or respect, accolades or acceptance. The way of Love is simple but not easy. Not only is the road often hard to find, but the path can get us into situations that feel dangerous. But I found that for me, the true spiritual home is, in fact, right here and now and open.
Loss can be the first step in a new beginning. It can be healthy. When something new starts, something old usually gets left behind, which can be sad. Some of us (me included) sometimes find ourselves looking for, longing for, a real spiritual home. Sometimes, we think we’ve found one, but only to find it doesn’t really fit. There is no need to fret. Gam zu l’tova. All is good. Love surrounds us. Just let it be what it will be. The task of walking the walk of spiritual thankfulness is to follow where God leads, even as we seek and question.
The trick is to make a commitment to the Eternal presence and open our ears and minds to what this force is communicating all around us. It’s like Plato teaching the Pythagorean theory in the play The Republic. A youth off the street learns the theorem by simply answering questions, and one leads to another. Just so for us. We can find the first simple answer by knowing that a spiritual question will be grounded in peace, compassion, and justice. Then, we find the next and the next. We are in the hands of God. All wisdom comes from this source, and it’s there for us to discover when we and the world are ready. This will guide us where we need to go even if, at the time, it seems hopeless. Imagine Joseph in the dungeon, Job, who was laid so low that his wife said, “Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9) After all, it is about how we walk, not what we talk and talk and talk.
So, the final question is, what is our spiritual commitment? Are we working, walking toward a new tomorrow of peace, joy, and love? Are we going to let all unhealthiness go and work toward the positive? Can we walk into the Light and make this world a better place, one little bit at a time, leaving the rest up to God? You never know. One little effort might be the last mitzvah necessary to push the world to the time of being ready for true holiness. After all, it is waiting just inside for us. All we have to do is let it out and come what may, in the end, gam zu l’tova.
Take good care of your beautiful Self,