A Letter From God

Many years ago I sat down to think about what God would perhaps say to us if He wrote us a letter before these upcoming awesome days. Over the years many people have been inspired by it and, to be honest, I reread it every year and feel that same inspiration. So I would like to share it this year here on the Substack. I hope it uplifts you and gives you clarity for Rosh Hashanah! Thank you for being a loyal reader this past year. I am wishing you all a shana tova u’mitukah, a sweet new year!

My precious child,

I want to wish you a shana tova, a sweet new year. There are a few things that you need to know, and I will share them with you now as we begin a new year together.

I need you to know that when I look at you, I see something very different from what you see when you look at yourself. When you look in the mirror, you see yourself as you are now. When I look at you, I see who you can be. I see who you are capable of being. My only goal is to bring you from where you are now to where I know you can be. I have many different ways of doing that.

Sometimes I don’t have to do anything because you are already challenging yourself and pushing yourself to become that person that I created you to become. So I just watch, with great nachas, and gently guide you in that direction. I orchestrate the events and experiences of your day-to-day life to ensure the maximum possibility of your achieving that goal.

Other times, I have to present you with challenges and hurdles in order to convert your potential greatness into actualized excellence. I know that those moments are painful and sometimes even excruciating, but if I don’t challenge you, then you will never become who I know you can be. Just know that I am closer to you during those moments than I am at any other time.

I want to tell you about one of my most important employees. He is the V.P. of Human Development. His name is Yetzer Hara. He works for me 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. He doesn’t get off for Shabbos or Yom Tov (actually, he works overtime on those days). Yetzer gets a bad rap, but in fact, he is really your best friend. If it weren’t for him, you would remain a nobody forever. I have empowered him to provide you with constant assaults and to approach you with a never-ending barrage of creative tactics, but they are always only to challenge you to grow and improve yourself. In fact, both Yetzer and I have only one goal for each and every encounter that you have with him—we both want you to overpower him and show him what you are made of. Of course, once you do that, I send him back with a more difficult obstacle to overcome. But don’t you see how much you have grown and refined yourself through this system?

I would like to give you some advice. Speak to me. Speak to me often. And by the way, a lot of people think I only understand Hebrew, but it is not true. I understand every language that there is. So speak to me in your own language. And you don’t have to go to a synagogue to do it. Speak to me when you are driving in your car (just make sure you pay attention to the road at the same time). Speak to me when you are taking a walk. Speak to me before you go to sleep. And most of all, speak to me on Shabbos. I am always available, and I am the best listener. I understand you better than anyone else (even yourself) because you are mine and I made you. So don’t be shy, don’t feel awkward, just reach out to me and pour your heart out to me, and I promise I will respond.

Going back to Shabbos, take advantage of this special gift that I gave you. It will change your life if you do. Use the quiet time (turn off your phone, computer, iPad, and all those other gadgets) to celebrate your most important relationships: your relationship with me, your relationship with yourself, and your relationships with those special people you are closest to. Even if you can’t carve out the whole 25 hours for this purpose, at least use some of the day to connect to me. I will let you in on a secret: I am talking to you all the time. Why is it that you usually don’t hear me? I speak in a very faint whisper. You have so many competing sounds, a cacophony of noises going on around you, that they drown me out. Find some quiet time on Shabbos and listen, and you will be amazed at what you hear.

Don’t try to go through the journey of life on your own. I want you to find a mentor who can guide you and teach you and show you how to find me and connect to me. When you find that person, cling to him or her and don’t let go. Make them teach you and guide you, and take their advice to heart.

In addition, find someone to take this journey with. It can be a spouse, but it doesn’t have to be. It is a lot easier to make this trek if you have someone with you who is looking for the same thing you are. Tell that person that they should always tell you when your actions are inconsistent with your goals and when you are moving away from your desired target.

If you are able, you should really make the effort to come to the place on earth where my presence can most be felt. I have worked out a deal with United Airlines that they will offer you round-trip tickets for under $1500. Take advantage of it and spend a couple of weeks in my city and imbibe the wisdom that oozes from the ancient walls there.

There is so much more to say, but that will have to suffice for now. In a few days, I will be writing the next act in the drama of human history. Each year, on the anniversary of the day that I created mankind, I revise the plan of history and I write the next act for the year to come. People don’t realize it, but I am willing to let you play any role that you are interested in and willing to play. So create the vision of the greatest version of yourself possible. Dream up who you want to be. Then, on Rosh Hashanah, instead of counting the number of pages left in the service, talk to me and tell me what role you want to play.

The Book of Life will be open on that day, and I am putting the pen in your hands. Bacharta B’Chaim. Choose life.

Love,

Your Father in Heaven, who believes in you and loves you unequivocally.