BS’D
Hitbodedut is not reserved only for tzaddikim and Rabbeim. It is for the run-of-the-mill me and you.
Solitary tefilla, hitbodedut, was common practice for our Patriarchs who roamed the fields and desert and recited passukim of tehillim, praise and teshuva before Hashem. The time used for hitbodedut was and still is seen as private time with the Borei Olam: just you and Hashem.
A main purpose for some is to heal their broken hearts. For others, it is to break their hearts; greatly enough it serves both drives. When life rips the joy out of us, we become brokenhearted. Our spiritual hishtadlut at this point is to run into Hashem’s waiting embrace and take refuge. This occurs instantly as we pour out our feelings to our Creator who loves us and wants us to recognize His love. He sits, as it were, and waits for us to meet Him during hitbodedut. There we are safe and not judged; only comforted.
Yet some people are packed with pride and need their hitbodedut to break their hearts and melt their egos. Upon contemplating the awesomeness of Hashem and His ability to change personal and world-wide events in the blink of an eye, they experience their smallness. Not just tininess but vulnerability to the uncertainty of life. For them, this is the place where their ego gets tempered and disciplined.
Hitbodedut can never go wrong. Whatever we need to let go of or add into our lives will come during our private hour with Hashem. What a gift!
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Naomi Miriam bas Roysa Shpetl. May Hashem send her a complete healing b’riut hanfesh v’b’riut haguf among all of Klal Yisrael who are in need of refuot, yeshuot v’nechamot, Amen.
