Love Without Limits: Embracing Devotion to the Creator

We are accustomed to the concept of love; however, our understanding is usually limited to natural forms of love such as a parent's love for their children or the love between spouses and friends. This sort of love is conditional and dependent because even parents' love for their children is bound by certain conditions regarding the child's behavior toward them. Additionally, this love stems from a form of self-love, since it is inherent for them to naturally care about their children, and they feel personal sorrow when their children are unhappy.

To illustrate, consider a father with a beloved two-year-old he hasn't seen all day. After returning from work, the child runs to him, and the father immediately hugs and kisses him, carrying him in his arms. But how long will he hold him? Five minutes, ten at most! Afterward, he will put the child down, perhaps offering a sweet or toy if the child doesn't want to be put down. If the child is older, about five, six, or seven, the father would not want to carry him at all. Yet with the Creator, there is no concept of 'pest' or 'nuisance'; in fact, the more one clings to the Creator, the more delighted they are.

The love that exists with the Creator is beyond our comprehension. It is love without limits, unconditional, and beyond any natural concept of love we know. The Creator wishes to love His people beyond measure, as clearly stated in the scriptures. This love is such that even if one were to engage with Him all day, they would not become tiresome to Him; rather, He delights greatly in those who strive to know and understand Him, for they have the power to overcome all challenges of faith, both natural and coincidental, that obscure His truth in a world full of concealment. The Creator finds great delight in wise individuals full of faith in Him, and He delights in rewarding them abundantly in this world and the next.

The concept of a person "clinging" to a friend is usually negative, as people generally do not appreciate others who are overly dependent on them. Such a person becomes a bothersome burden with their frequent visits, conversations, and requests. However, with Hashem, the concept of 'clinging' takes on the highest form, used by all the righteous, as it is written in the Torah (Deuteronomy 10:20): "You shall fear Hashem your God, worship Him, and cling to Him." It is also stated (Deuteronomy 4:4): "But you who cling to Hashem your God are all alive today." Hence, Hashem demands that we cling to Him. The Creator has no burden in a person being attached to Him all day and night. This is the greatness of the righteous, as explained in the first section of the Shulchan Aruch, derived from the Rambam in 'Guide for the Perplexed,' for they are continuously connected to Hashem. The more a person thinks about and speaks with Hashem, the greater their stature becomes.

Furthermore, consider another perspective; every father waits for his child to become independent, able to manage on his own without "falling" back on his father, and the more independent the child is, the more pleased the father is. However, with the Creator, the opposite is true: the more a person feels dependent on the Creator, the more beloved they are. The less one relies on their self-assurance and depends on the Creator, they achieve their ultimate purpose truly.

And this should be even in the most minimal things requiring self-confidence, like walking, sitting, standing, opening one's eyes, and wearing clothes and shoes. In such minimal things, would a father want his child to depend on him?! Wouldn't that become a burden and an oppressive weight on the father, which is deeply troubling? But with Hashem, the opposite is true - the Creator asks us in (Psalms 55:23): "Cast your burden upon Hashem and He will sustain you." Throw upon Hashem all your "burden" - even down to the smallest details mentioned. Trust and depend on Him and not on yourself. Bless Him for every detail, whether it is straightening the bent, freeing the imprisoned, opening the blind, clothing the naked, and so on. Give thanks for every detail, thus showing that you depend on Him, even in these minor matters, and in this, you are most praised. Not only is there no burden or bother with the Creator when you attach yourself to Him for every detail, but on the contrary, in this, you are more on your path to your ultimate purpose.

This article is taken from the book "Living in Faith". To purchase Rabbi Yaakov Israel Lugasi's book, click here.