"See, I give before you this day blessing and curse. The blessing WHEN you will listen to G-d...and the curse, IF you will not listen..."

So begins this week's parasha.

What comforting words! 

Doing right and the resultant blessings are not a matter of if, but when! No matter what our situation now, spiritually or materially, we are assured that ultimately it will all be good - we will do right, and we will be blessed.

What this means is that good and blessing are the very fabric of our nature. They are always there, just bursting to get out. And get out, they most certainly will!

In contrast, bad behaviour, and curses, are external to us. They may or may not eventuate - but even if they do, they never represent who we truly are or what will eventually become of us. As such, even if we suffer, let's not be discouraged. Never forget that as dark as the tunnel is, it will come to an end. Not so the infinite G-dly light which lies beyond it, which with just a little push on our part, will burst forth from within us.

A thought to keep in mind as we begin our approach to the High Holy Day period when we commit to leading better lives and ask G-d to shower His blessings upon us!

Rabbi Benzion Milecki OAM
Shabbat Re'eh 5773 / Aug-3, 2013