Question: I have been feeling so bored with davening. It is the same words day after day. When you think about it, if someone has to do the same thing every day, it is totally normal they would get bored. I end up paying less attention to the words and just get more bored.
Answer: You feelings are understandable. We need new things in our life to stay inspired. When things are the same day in and day out, many people look for alternative outlets.
In your letter you mention: 1. it is the same words day after day; 2. doing the same thing every day becomes boring.
The same words each day: In the text HaYom Yom it is written: The Alter Rebbe used to refer to Atzilut (the highest of the four spiritual worlds) as "Above." They say that because of intense emotion, when writing the word he could get no further than "Atzi -." When the Rebbe’s of Chabad taught Chassidus and described the happenings in the spiritual worlds, they were relating concepts that they deeply felt. Thus, although the Alter Rebbe had spoken and written about the world of Atzilut many times, he was overcome by intense emotion each time.
The words may be the same words, but each word is a vessel for a concept. Each concept is composed of layer upon layer of meaning. Learning both the simple and inner meaning of the words of prayer, in addition to contemplating the explanations before davening, leads to a joyful spiritual experience. The words, although repeated each day, continue to inspire the person with feelings of love and awe of the Creator.
As the Baal Shem Tov teaches, “just as the greatest explorers will never uncover the limits of the great and valuable resources which the Al-mighty has placed within the earth, neither will anyone ever discover the limits of the great treasures which lie buried within a Jew...”
A Rosh Yeshiva in a Chabad yeshiva was approached by a student who claimed, “chassidus doesn’t work for me, I don’t feel anything special.” The Rosh Yeshiva, realizing he needed to give the student a good shake replied, “just go home.” The student was shocked. The Rosh Yeshiva explained (he did not literally mean for the student to go home), “the reason you do not feel love and awe of Hashem through the application of the teachings of Chassidus is because you do not try. Making the effort will enable you to experience the joy of serving Hashem.”
True, the words are the same words each day, yet, there is layer upon layer of meaning and spiritual potential within each word. Davening can be tedious and boring or inspiring and joyful. Like many things in life, it depends how much we invest ourselves in the process.
Aharon Schmidt, marriage & individual counseling, [email protected]
