The second of the Seven Noahide Laws commands us: Do not curse your Creator
We are always changing, and every change is bringing new challenge with it. Some changes are exciting and we see them as positive improvements in our lives. On the other hand, sometimes our situation looks and feels frustrating to us, so out of anger and pain we are tempted to use a hostile language. Most of the time, things are just “moving along” and it feels like nothing is really happening.
Regardless of the stage in our lives, we have to understand that this world is created and recreated all the time. This reality is so obvious regardless if you believe in the Divine or trust the science (which is nothing more than learning the rules that the Divine put in place so nature could “take it cause”) or anywhere in between.
Our language is the reflection of our reality. Nowadays, we are discussing the importance of positive thinking and the appropriate expression of it. We are talking about the importance of it in our relationships, in our workplace, in our friendships and even the reflection of it in our thoughts (talking to ourselves).
Once we agree on the principle of positive thinking to build relationships between people, how much more so we should do it to build relationships with the Divine. This is the most important connection and our acknowledgement of it will be expressed in our language.
In different situations – with good remembering the source of blessing, with everyday mundane life remembering the source of sustenance, and in the situation where goodness is hidden from us – we have to learn how to appreciate our Creator. This skill is very hard to learn. There are days when it comes easier, and there are days when we fail to uphold the standard. It is extremely important to remember that in times when we fail, we can feel complete regret, think of how to safeguard our speech and grow from the experience.
Learning from our success as well as failure ensures our emotional and spiritual maturity. Like everything else, the more we exercise the new skill, the easier it is for us to overcome the challenges it presents. If we find it too hard to see through the particular circumstances, we should try to remain silent. Silence is rarely helpful to achieve the desired outcome, however it is a very powerful tool to move along the road of learnt appreciation.
Therefore, let’s learn positive and respectful language skills. We will not understand the deep reasons behind the prohibition of cursing, but we will definitely benefit from it.