YouTube video: https://youtu.be/GtiaaErPSkI
Hod of Netzach
Hi everyone, Jordan Drayer, the savvy millennial voice actress who can endure yet knows when to give up. Today is three weeks and five days of the Omer. If you want to know more about the Omer and how it works, check out the links in the description.
Yes, today is Hod of Netzach, the humility in endurance. We're going to look at two things. The first, as I mentioned in my introduction, is knowing when to yield. This goes along with something we talked about before, being unable to change. If you stand too stubbornly steadfast against something, it may break you. We all have to give in at some point, or if you refuse to be a relic, like Madonna, even then you continue to change to remain relevant.
I first imagined myself going from bachelor's to master's to doctorate all in music, then playing in a world-class orchestra. After going to several competitions in the southeast US, I realized that I was not that good. I was good, but not world-class, and the only way to get there would have been more hours of practicing that I was not willing to do. Practicing made me feel lonely. I didn't love playing French horn that much to the point I'd be willing to practice six hours a day. So I gave up and turned to other interests, especially voiceover. Knowing when to yield and give up is important for sanity and happiness.
The second thing for this Hod of Netzach is acknowledgement that our souls come from God. Yeah, every time Hod comes up in the Omer, it's about humility before God. So again, if this bothers you, think of it then just in terms of gratefulness, grateful to be you, to be alive, and that you have the power to change if you don't like who you are. But if we stick with the God piece, it is acknowledgement that we can endure because God gives us power.
Here's a negative endurance story. I used to be so anti-religion growing up, until I learned that it's all about how you choose to use it. Not everyone who attends a religious institution is a blind follower, as I'd believed. At least in Judaism, openly questioning anything, including God, is allowed and encouraged. So I gave that up and now am comforted in believing that things will work out eventually, even if it takes centuries. I can carry on in whatever I do, or change paths and work on that, because I trust myself, that I have the endurance and strength to do anything, and I trust that the force of the universe will aid me or even hinder me if that choice is not a good one.
Today's exercise is about gratitude. Either thank God for giving you strength, or if you can't be grateful to any god, then make a list of people that help you keep going, and maybe thank them. I'm grateful for all of you. Please share this with someone today, and I'll see you tomorrow.
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