Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
Interpretation
Celebration is about acknowledging and finding deeper significance in our actions.
In this quote, Abraham Joshua Heschel emphasizes that celebration goes beyond mere festivity; it represents a confrontation with the deeper, often spiritual meanings behind our actions. By celebrating, we bring attention to and appreciate the transcendent aspects of our lives, allowing us to reflect on their significance and purpose.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech about the value of celebrating achievements in life.
Normal consciousness is a state of stupor, in which the sensibility to the wholly real and responsiveness to the stimuli of the spirit are reduced. The mystics, knowing that man is involved in a hidden history of the cosmos, endeavor to awake from the drowsiness and apathy and to regain the state of wakefulness for their enchanted souls.
Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, or mend a broken bridge, or rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.
The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith.
We worship God through our questions.
When religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion, its message becomes meaningless.
The true meaning of existence is disclosed in moments of living in the presence of God
Sensitive people faced with the prospect of a camera portrait put on a face they think is one they would like to show the world very often what lies behind the facade is rare and more wonderful than the subject knows or dares to believe.
We should take care, in inculcating patriotism into our boys and girls, that is a patriotism above the narrow sentiment which usually stops at one's country, and thus inspires jealousy and enmity in dealing with others... Our patriotism should be of the wider, nobler kind which recognises justice and reasonableness in the claims of others and which lead our country into comradeship with...the other nations of the world.
I can tell you that God is alive because I talked to him this morning.
Trouble and prayer are closely related. Trouble often drives men to God in prayer, while prayer is but the voice of men in trouble.
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptuneβs ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.β βMy hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white. A little water clears us of this deed: How easy it is then! Your constancy hath left you unattended.
Whence comes this idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can't be God's will? The God who made giraffes, a baby's fingernails, a puppy's tail, a crooknecked squash, the bobwhite's call, and a young girl's giggle, has a sense of humor. Make no mistake about that.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.