Yom Kippur: Close the Circuit & Let the Flow Flow!

On the first Rosh Hashana of creation, the Creator blew the breath of life into Adam and Chava. On our Rosh Hashana we give it back by blowing shofar. “Thank You, God, for my neshama (soul/breath); here it is, right back at You!”

Electricians might refer to this as closing a circuit, so to speak. Whereas in an open circuit a power source connects to a light but doesn’t double back, a closed circuit returns to the source. The difference: uninterrupted flow of power, light bulbs going on, connection.

God, the power source, is always reaching us, animating us, powering our cells and consciousness with Divine thought; there is no other power source.

So what accounts for our experience of feeling lost or in a state of disconnection? What causes the lack of flow, the open circuit in our experience of life?

Us. When we hang our experience on things and circumstances of this world – as opposed to the One Source – we fail to close the circuit. When we attribute our experience back to the One Source, we close it.

NOTE: this is NOT to say that feeling warm and happy and clear minded is a sign of connection (i.e. good) and feeling lost demonstrates disconnect (i.e. bad). God can send us happy, peaceful thoughts and we think they come from our salary raise or vacation. That’s an open, non-flowing circuit. It feels nice in the moment but a) it’s a misunderstanding of reality and b) we won’t know where to look when it runs out.

Alternatively, God can send us distress and we acknowledge it as from Him. That’s a powerful, closed circuit. King David said, “From the narrow places I call to You.” It was obvious to David to call to God in his distress. Where else were the narrow places coming from but Him?

In short, real connection is not evidenced by feeling the way you want to feel. It’s about living in reality. It’s about sourcing your experience in its true source. God will flow what He’ll flow; some of it will feel this way, some will feel that way. You will do your best with the understanding you have to make choices, be proactive, live your life. Sometimes you will remember this; sometimes you will forget. God rigged the system to support remembering. As you remember, your innate preference for connection will guide you and the body of work called your life will get richer, softer, deeper.  The Source is on our side.

On Yom Kippur we return (tshuva). Double back to the Source.

—

Rabbi Henry Harris has served as consultant to Fortune 500 CEOs and Wall Street Managing Directors as well as teens, moms and dads. Based in North Jersey, he runs www.jewishcenterforwellbeing.com, where he offers programs and coaching that promote successful living through a discovery of one’s own wisdom and wellbeing. Henry received his rabbinic degree from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He feels fortunate that his wife and seven children enjoy his company most of the time.