Lech Lecha- One Day at a Time

When Hashem told Avraham to leave his birthplace, Hashem did not tell him where he was going.  This was a major part of his Nisayon.  To know that he had to do Hashem's will, even if he didn't know what it was in the long term.

Avraham's Nisyonos are ours.  Every day when we wake up we have to focus on doing what Hashem wants us to do that day.  We don't have to know what the long term plan is, we just have to focus on doing Hashem's will that day.  The difficulties, and setbacks that come up are often Hashem's way of directing us to where he wants us to go, and we have to be flexible and make the most of what Hashem sends us.

Based on Rabbi Parkoff's book  "Trust Me"

The danger of mixing light and dark.

Why is it that Avraham was able to live with numerous idolaters that he was trying to bring under the wings of the Shechina, but he was unable to live with his own nephew Lot.  The Netivot Shalom says that the answer is that Lot was a combination of goodness and evil in such extreme measures that it was dangerous for Avraham to be near him.

Shira Smiles says that we have to look for this trait in ourselves and try to control it.  When something is obviously evil, it is easy to reject it, but when it seems like it might be one way and it might be another way, it can be confusing and lead us astray. One of the most dangerous things is when we do something that is wrong, and we try to convince ourselves that it is a mitzvah.  We have to be careful to be clear about what is truly good and what is truly evil, and not to confuse them.  When they are mixed together it is very hard to see clearly.

The worst thing possible is when you think you are close and really you are so far.

from a Shiur by Shira Smiles on Parshas Lech Lecha from Kol Halashon

One of the most important keys to success in OA is clear and honest thinking.  When we begin to find excuses for slacking off, we are confusing light and dark, and risking falling down.

Still More From Shira Smiles on Lech Lecha

In Yidishkeit there is no such thing as happily ever after We believe that life is about growth and that struggling is part of growth, but -- EVERYONE HAS TO STRUGGLE NO ONE HAS TO SUFFER.

Parshat Lech Lecha

From a Shiur by Shira Smiles on Lech Lecha

http://www.naaleh.com/viewclass/274/single/

A person is like a tree. His branches are the mitzvot that he does, but his roots are his midos.

While working the program we can not think just about our food plan, working the program means working on our character.

We are involved in a lifetime struggle to bring out the positive inside of ourselves.

Our stuggle is for a lifetime. We can not think that it is a temporary struggle.

When we learn something that really resonates within us we should try to turn it into a tefilah and ask Hashem to make it part of our lives.

We have to ask Hashem to help us to make the program part of our lives not just pay it lip service.