C3: Future

Issue Navigation:

Introduction

Good grades, decent qualifications, a secure job and a promising career are all very real concerns. Marriage, health and happiness are also worries that young people have about their future. Judaism has some basic important philosophical beliefs which can help us with our daily troubles and future worries. Understanding them can transform them into tools which will help us to lead fulfilling lives.

The Vision of Creation

Judaism is optimism. No less than five times is the phrase, "And God saw that it was good" repeated in the first chapter of Genesis. It is not a passing comment, it is a fundamental definition of creation. The world is not something hostile to God or independent of Him. Everything comes from God and is in essence good, nothing is absolutely evil. Though Nature seems indifferent to how we feel, the world is good, since goodness is its final aim. Without challenges there would be no development or growth in life. Judaism tells us to look positively at life on all levels: from our own personal challenges to the advancement of the whole world.

Footprints

In a dream one night, I was walking on a beach. Scenes from my life flashed passed, so close I could almost touch them. As the visions sped by I looked down on the sand and saw God's footprints and mine imprinted side by side. We had journeyed together through all the episodes of my life.

But then I saw something strange. During times of trouble there was just one set of prints and I said to God: How could You leave me at the low points of my life, just when I needed you most? God replied: My child, you have it all wrong. When times were hard and you had no hope, I was there. The one set of footprints are were I carried you.

Next Page