How can we justify something bad happening to someone who is good? One explanation is deeply mystical in nature: Through reincarnation.

You are accused of owing a debt. You know you don’t owe anything, but nevertheless the Omniscient obligates you to pay up. You shouldn’t be haunted by questioning The One – who is truth, peace, happiness and justice – by thinking it’s unfair and asking, “Where is the joy in this outcome?”

A kabbalistic answer is you owed the debt in a previous incarnation, and The Divine is now making you pay in order to free you from your old debt. As for the individual who took your debt deceitfully, that person will ultimately have to account for that immoral action.

The Creator of the world and all souls knows what happened with us in previous lives, and supervises life corresponding to sacred spirit and energy; with love, compassion, righteousness and true justice.

When your home feels peaceful and comfortable (homey – or haimish as I describe it) to you, it is much easier for your spirit to feel the same way when you are there. That feeling of tranquility and comfort also extends out to guests in your home.

Your home represents more than who or what you are; it represents your state of mind and your state of being.

I keep a card holder on my desk with the “Roman Rule” on it, which states, “If you believe something can’t be done, don’t interfere with the one who is doing it.”

Never take the position that something can’t be done. If you do, you foretell your own failure. Keep a positive attitude and your chances of things happening the way you want them to will occur more often than not.

Can you imagine what it would be like to not have the things you should be grateful for? It’s difficult, but let’s try.

Imagine you’re in a nursing home (Heaven forbid), confined to a bed with tubes and catheters stuck inside you because you can’t move, see, hear or speak – and no one visits you, ever! You’re in a dark place, all alone, immovable, senseless, unable to have communication, and you can’t do anything about it.

Now imagine you’re in a Third World country, your stomach constantly aching because you are starving, hardly able to move since your limbs are weak from malnutrition, barely talking as your throat is raw from thirst, being naked and ashamed since your last bit of clothing had worn away, and your only rest is under a tree, hoping a carnivore won’t attack you during your sleep.

So now is a good time to appreciate and enjoy all you have. Give thanks, and be grateful for at least one person or thing in your life each day. If not for the Grace of God, you would not be where you are or have what you possess. Don’t forget how lucky and blessed you are to be in your situation, regardless of what’s going on in your life right now.