There are so many people experiencing similar situations in their marriage as Steve and I. We thought we were the only ones for so long. Loneliness is one of the most crushing emotions I’ve ever felt and I don’t want anyone feeling that, but I know many do.
I want to say, if family or friends have left you, ignored you, or hurt you because you shared differing beliefs with them, please, please, please know that I love you. Your value does not diminish based on what you believe. The world is a better place because you are in it. I want to know you. I want to hear your story. I want to learn what, how, and why you find meaning in this crazy life. You matter to me.
And if you have said hurtful things, ignored, or left someone whose faith journey takes them out of your comfort zone, please, please, please know that I love you, too.
There is a Hebrew term commonly used in the Bible: Simhah. This word is commonly translated into English as “joy;” however, Rabbi Sacks teaches that we actually don’t have an English word to directly translate this interesting Hebrew term; he says that a phrase would be more accurate: “happiness we share.” To me, this means that true joy is not isolated; we need each other. We need each other to feel true joy. Connection is joy and when that connection is severed there is suffering. What a tragedy rejection and intolerance are. We need each other and our differences.
Every life journey is different, we have so many reasons to separate ourselves from people we don’t understand, but if we choose, instead, to listen and to connect, we create Simhah. Humans, I believe, have the ability to create the greatest joy when sharing themselves with another.