It’s so hard to believe how fast the summer flew by and that the High Holy Days are fast approaching. That being said I would like to speak to one of our Temple Emanuel 6 Core Values, SPIRITUALITY.

I happened to watch a YouTube video the other day that really made me think. It’s called “GET SERVICE” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfeXxkbgCVE. If you have a minute, I suggest you take a peek. The video illustrates approximately an hour in one man’s life as he begins his morning and is completely frustrated by every person that he comes in contact with along the way.

It begins with a young neighborhood boy who always happens to be in his way, riding his skateboard behind his car as he attempts to pull out of his driveway in a hurry. Every person he comes in contact with causes him to become exceeding more aggravated and his frustration level continues to escalate through out the video.

He finally ends up in line for coffee (of course) where someone cuts in front of him. When it’s finally his turn, they need to make a new pot. He sits down frustrated, talking to himself, when a man approaches and hands him a pair of eye glasses. He is urged to put them on. Through the glasses he can now see a few words flashing in front of everyone in the coffee house including a few who ruined his day. Our main character starts to freak out, not believing his eyes.

A few of the labels say “fighting addiction,” “grieving the loss of her best friend,” “working two jobs to feed her children,” “recently lost his job,” and “just needs a hug” flashes in front of a big, rough, burly man, who yells at our main character as he runs frantically out of the coffee house.  The video ends with him going home, seeing the little boy whose label says “just needs someone to care.” At that point the man goes over to the little boy and says “hey buddy, come here.” The little boy lights up and as easy as that, he makes a difference in someone’s life and changes his own.

This video touched me and really made me think about just how important it is to find space in our hearts for others even on our own worst days. In such hard and uncertain times, when each and every one of us wonders what the future will bring concerning our health, finances and security, it would be nice to keep this message in the back of our minds, find a little extra space in our hearts for one another. Without even being aware, we impact each person we come in contact with throughout our day, so remember that a simple kind smile can change someone’s life more than we will ever know.

Here’s smiling at you!