A few nights ago, Dave pointed out something important to me. He noticed that as we continued to explore methodologies to safeguard Shmirat Einayim, I began to go overboard in my attitude - I began to think that it's impossible to look at anything!
"Steve, your eyes are not your enemy!" he said.
"Did I say they are?"
"In so many words, yes. You don't have to be afraid of using your sight. Think of your eyes as a window to inspiring, illuminating sights. Use them to your advantage."
"Like a tourist trying to take in all the beauty of a foreign country."
"Yeah, sort of."
So I began to think of how to do "spiritual sightseeing." The first thing I started doing was to let my eyes consciously rest on my tefillin before I put them on each day. I made it a point to look inside the Torah as it was being held up during services in the synagogue. When I pass the Beit Midrash on my way to the train in the morning, I peek inside and catch a glimpse of people learning Torah. On my way home after work, I watch the sun set.
These are small things and each only takes a few seconds. Yet I found that I'm uplifted by them. Maybe it's the increasing awareness of the spirituality around me, I don't know. All I know is that I feel more connected to G-d and the intrinsic holiness at my fingertips - and there is nothing quite like it.
These e-mails are excerpts taken from the book "Windows of the Soul" by Rabbi Zvi Miller of the Salant Foundation.