It is Tanis Esther. Today I was inspired (felt virtual driven) to start writing a blog.
This week I have listened to several amazing shiurim on Purim by the extraordinary Rabbi Zacharia Wallerstein. They all touched in some way on the aspect of midah k'neged midah, how Hashem is hidden, and how it's our job to find Him.
How does this fit in with Kavanah Kards?
I thought, "This project was never "intended" in any sense of the word. It was a "coincidence" that arose out of personal struggle." But looking back, it is in no way true. Looking back, it's clear as day that Hashem created my struggle to create Kavanah Kards. Hashem's "hand" has been on the steering wheel and Hashem's "foot" has been on the gas from the first moment.
Look at the movement that now exists in six countries, with the beautiful cards that have been created (as of yesterday in Hebrew and Yiddish!), with all the myriad things that had to "happen":
Designing the cards: Such a struggle in the beginning! Had to try seven graphic designers because they either didn't respond, or never produced anything. Finally I said, "Hashem, I really want to do this, but I need your help, so I'm giving it over to you." The very next person created the large mountain davening card.
This website: A 15 year-old grandson and I (who NEVER did anything like this in my life) built it and I have continued to develop it, which has turned into a really creative "adventure", and allowed me to subsequently build another website totally on my own! (SuccessfulPerception.com about the perceptual processing disorder Irlen Syndrome, which can cause difficulty reading, learning, concentrating and navigating, plus migraine, nausea and all types of discomfort)
Marketing: What good is great project without people participating and what good is a website without people seeing it? In the beginning I invested a considerable amount monthly in advertising Kavanah Kards. Then I stopped--at first just not 'feeling" to do it at that time. Again, it was Hashem because He wanted to show me He is our supporter because, for "some reason", the number of people who came on it grew without the advertising--175 different people just this week!!!
Members: No movement exists without people. The article in Mishpacha Family First Magazine before Rosh Hashana put the project into the public eye. If I tried to get that to happen, I would never have been able to do it. The contagious enthusiasm of one woman accomplished that (The Lubavitcher Rebbe ztl said "It takes three women to make a movement." Kavanah Kards, with 2 women plus Hashem, beat even that!)
Support: From the first, I funded the project with printing, graphic design, advertising and mailing. Then others started helping by sending in donations (Thank-you Hashem!) Just yesterday the first donation via PayPal happened--just in time to help with the printing of the new Hebrew & Yiddish cards!
Also, there is the enthusiastic participation by people (especially my beloved daughter-in-law in Israel who just "slid into the driver's seat" there on her own).
Satisfaction: In addition to the personal joy of creative expression, happiness at what has been achieved, being privileged to interact with wonderful people through calls and emails, and delight at how many people are searching and yearning for a closer relationship with Hashem, there has been an outpouring of brachos and hakores hatov to me personally which touches my soul, even though I am truly only watching what Hashem is doing. This is Hashem's way of creating acknowledgment in the same hidden way He created the entire project.
Bracha v'hatzlacha and great thanks to you for doing what it is that Hashem is showing us He so very much wants--creating a kesher with Him.
This week I have listened to several amazing shiurim on Purim by the extraordinary Rabbi Zacharia Wallerstein. They all touched in some way on the aspect of midah k'neged midah, how Hashem is hidden, and how it's our job to find Him.
How does this fit in with Kavanah Kards?
I thought, "This project was never "intended" in any sense of the word. It was a "coincidence" that arose out of personal struggle." But looking back, it is in no way true. Looking back, it's clear as day that Hashem created my struggle to create Kavanah Kards. Hashem's "hand" has been on the steering wheel and Hashem's "foot" has been on the gas from the first moment.
Look at the movement that now exists in six countries, with the beautiful cards that have been created (as of yesterday in Hebrew and Yiddish!), with all the myriad things that had to "happen":
Designing the cards: Such a struggle in the beginning! Had to try seven graphic designers because they either didn't respond, or never produced anything. Finally I said, "Hashem, I really want to do this, but I need your help, so I'm giving it over to you." The very next person created the large mountain davening card.
This website: A 15 year-old grandson and I (who NEVER did anything like this in my life) built it and I have continued to develop it, which has turned into a really creative "adventure", and allowed me to subsequently build another website totally on my own! (SuccessfulPerception.com about the perceptual processing disorder Irlen Syndrome, which can cause difficulty reading, learning, concentrating and navigating, plus migraine, nausea and all types of discomfort)
Marketing: What good is great project without people participating and what good is a website without people seeing it? In the beginning I invested a considerable amount monthly in advertising Kavanah Kards. Then I stopped--at first just not 'feeling" to do it at that time. Again, it was Hashem because He wanted to show me He is our supporter because, for "some reason", the number of people who came on it grew without the advertising--175 different people just this week!!!
Members: No movement exists without people. The article in Mishpacha Family First Magazine before Rosh Hashana put the project into the public eye. If I tried to get that to happen, I would never have been able to do it. The contagious enthusiasm of one woman accomplished that (The Lubavitcher Rebbe ztl said "It takes three women to make a movement." Kavanah Kards, with 2 women plus Hashem, beat even that!)
Support: From the first, I funded the project with printing, graphic design, advertising and mailing. Then others started helping by sending in donations (Thank-you Hashem!) Just yesterday the first donation via PayPal happened--just in time to help with the printing of the new Hebrew & Yiddish cards!
Also, there is the enthusiastic participation by people (especially my beloved daughter-in-law in Israel who just "slid into the driver's seat" there on her own).
Satisfaction: In addition to the personal joy of creative expression, happiness at what has been achieved, being privileged to interact with wonderful people through calls and emails, and delight at how many people are searching and yearning for a closer relationship with Hashem, there has been an outpouring of brachos and hakores hatov to me personally which touches my soul, even though I am truly only watching what Hashem is doing. This is Hashem's way of creating acknowledgment in the same hidden way He created the entire project.
Bracha v'hatzlacha and great thanks to you for doing what it is that Hashem is showing us He so very much wants--creating a kesher with Him.
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