Questions for today:
The ‘prooftext’ of the Tanya is a verse that insists that it is ‘easy’ to love the Creator. Wouldn’t that be dependent on the circumstance; my propensity to love, my qualities, my choices?
A friend comes over to you and asks, “is there anything I can do to help you?”
The natural response is a feeling of care and appreciation towards the person who showed that they care about you.
Now, imagine an important person, such as the program director or the dean of the university, comes over with that same concern. Not trying to sell anything to you, just genuinely caring and wanting to make sure you're okay.
You will automatically feel appreciation and care for that person, and you will feel even more elated because it was an important person who cared about you.
In our conversation, we're not talking about the program director or the dean of the University. We are talking about the Creator of heaven and earth who ‘comes down’ and gets involved in the nitty gritty details of our lives.
G-d personally gives us opportunities to connect to Him by doing charitable acts Connecting our ‘arms’ with a warm embrace.. and studying the Torah, our lips mouthing G-d’s words, an intimate kiss.
This method of achieving love is unique. Often, our love for the Creator is dependent upon some quality or action of ours. However, the type of love that we are currently discussing is different.
Here, our love for G-d is a natural response to the Creator of the world being interested in the trivial details of our lives. Therefore, the less deserving we are, the more our hearts will swell with appreciation and love for the Creator for getting involved in the details of our lives.
139 Tanya Iyar 09 ~ m163 Iyar 4
Tanya book 1, ch 46, Pt 1
Today, we describe reciprocal love. As we are shown care, our appreciation for the person showering us with care grows.
With this love, the less deserving we are, the greater it is.
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=5/5/2022
See today’s video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYpIRDzhjms&list=PLFZQPK6u-zSBls9Hwx3P5vKIBRnjBvHe&index=138