Purpose in a Poem

Hey! I got a facebook message tonight by someone asking me to be a motivational speaker. I got inspired  to write this.

First thing's first. Before you start reading, it goes better with a beat. So click this link/or copy and paste it in your web browser then begin reading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUFyqFpgqVI


Purpose in a Poem

You lookin' for you self?

Well maybe I could help.

We go searchin' in clubs for love, but tell our self's it’s just for leisure.

Wake up in our 30’s with a seizure.

No spouse, no house, payin' rent.

But at least you got out your moms’ basement.

Time passes while we workin’ the 9 to 5,

But you’re still alive.

So what’s the purpose?

Maybe you heard this.

Smoking weed and drinkin' are only distractions.

Sure, everything in fractions.

Daily doses detract from your essence.

Infinite potential being alive in this presence.

We don’t utilize the gift.

I want you to realize the shift.

We mistakenly ate the blue pill.

No, you chill.

Relax and I’ll explain...

We live our lives entertained by television, facebook, media, buyin clothes, goin on trips to who knows, hookin up with “ho’s” who are really daughters, sister’s, and soul’s, packin up them bowls, smoking our lungs holes, it’s getting late and "what happened to my goals?"

There’s another way more balanced.

You still integrate with the world, but on a higher standing.

Where your mind keeps expanding.

It’s been debated, the world was created.

By a big bang or G-d.

I believe there one in the same.

G-d said "let their be light" and then we were game.

Make a relationship with G-d, to elevate the mundane.

That’s the purpose of life.  

He gives us direction,

The opportunity for connection,

The tools to find true love and affection,

But maybe I am wrong and you have an objection.

So I’m sorry, this is just my spiritual convection. 

Anyway, I followed G-d’s direction.

I got more money, deeper friendships, great joy, balance, and meaning.

I developed an understanding of G-d intervening with my day.

In a good a way. 

Now I could feel his entity,

it entered me. 

I upgraded my identity.

Life is what you make it, take it how come.

Maximize your life, that’s the rule of thumb.

Have a great week, cuz now I think I’m done.  

I wish you all the best in your search for yourself.

Good luck and good health. 

LO

VE

Adam Ezekiel

Determined

I climbed a valuable stepping stone this month, I completed a task of importance to me, my country, my people, and to G-d.
I consummated the army.

I learned what it is to be a soldier, I invested my time and energy into this valuable cause, and for it I feel that I gained an abundance.

I learned how to use a gun and gas mask.
I learned how to be a better team player.
I learned to balance out Judaism and religiousness with the modern world.
I enhanced my speaking, reading, writing, & typing in Hebrew.
I realized how important freedom is, and how time is priceless because in the army you really don't have a lot of free time and when you finally get some, you just want to relax.
I got a better understanding of how the country works and it's mentality.
I saw that the army cares about it's soldiers and tries to accommodate for each and every one of them.

It was an honor serving in the IDF.
The truth is, I'm not completely finished.
I am now enrolled in reserve duty. Every year of my life until I reach my 40's I will spend anywhere from a week to a month serving the army.

I'll do it with pride.


Now that the army is behind me. I have one month left in my personal training course. Once that's done it's time for me to get a job, start a business, figure out where I want live (with my parents or on my own), and take the next steps into success.

This is by far the most exciting time of my life, deciding what to do with it.

The momentum has built up. Picture a wind up toy car that's been pulled back and ready to rip, I'm at that point in my life.

Determined to achieve great things.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
- Mark Twain

LO
VE

Adam Ezekiel

My Epiphany

It was a bright sunny day on my army base, located on the shores of Netanya beach, Israel.
My day had been running smooth, when suddenly I heard a commotion coming from outside the dining hall I was currently eating lunch at.

I saw soldiers, officers, commanders and the like sprinting.

It was then, I noticed that the direction people were running was towards a large fire that broke out.

My instant reaction was stop what I am doing and run to see whats going on.

I started to run, I got closer and closer to the source and saw a barracks ablaze.

People were filling up buckets and dumping them on the fire.
Others were spraying hoses of water in the room caught on fire.

I of course got involved in the help efforts. Minutes later I saw a few young girls with green army uniforms approach the fire, these girls are maybe 20,21 years old and are commanders. As they got closer to the fire, I watched them realize that the room on fire was theirs.

Each one broke down in tears.

Some lost a lot, others lost a little, however all girls witnessed their room go down in flames with things sentimental to them.

It was hard to watch.

It was then that something clicked in my head.

Something I'm ashamed of.

My original reason for running toward the fire was to watch it.

Whereas I got the impression that the Israeli's ran toward the fire to help put it out, and help anyone in trouble.

I asked myself, why did I not first think of helping?

Perhaps I may never know the answer. But I tried to narrow it down anyway, I started to think back to my life in Canada.

I remember when I was 8 years old I was walking home with my mom. As we approached my neighborhood I noticed that my residents of my neighborhood were standing outside there doors. News crews, firefighters, paramedics, and police were on the streets, and caution tape was everywhere. I saw some friends of mine signal me over. The asked me if I had seen what had happened to Jeremy's house. I said no. So they took me on the neighborhood walking path located behind our homes. When we got to the paths end, we turned the corner. What I saw, Ill never forget.
An 18 wheeler truck was inside my friends home.
The truck had lost it's breaks, it exited the highway and went straight into my friends home, killing my friends mom doing laundry in the basement.

~

I remember in high school the fist fights that went down in the school lobby.
Masses would come watch, including myself.

The only people that would stop them were the teachers.

~

It's so cold in Canada for most of the year that looking back a lot of time was spent on leisure activities like watching action movies, fights on TV, and other indoor spectacles.

Maybe I became desensitized to all the violence and action.


However what is life all about?
Growing.
Changing.
Becoming a better person.
Being the best one can be.
& learning from every situation, good and bad.

I learned a great lesson that day.

Helping my fellow man comes first.
Life is not a movie to be watched, life is real, I must care more about others and take greater action when danger is spotted.

~

Building the path to greatness one lesson at a time.


LO
VE



Adam Ezekiel

Magic

There aren't too many words to describe how happy I am living in Israel.

I'm truly having the time of my life.

A few weeks ago while my parents were out of town a good friend of mine (Carlos) from the army and I planned on spending a shabbat together.
I said I would hook up the meals, and he was to set up the place to sleep.

Carlos chose to work as a truck driver in the army. He has long hours, sleeps on the base, and it's not often that he gets to come home even on the weekends.

So to spend a shabbat with Carlos was something I really looked forward to.

Everything was going according to plan.
The meals and place to sleep was set up.

Friday quickly came, and I got a phone call in the morning.
It was Carlos.

He had called to tell me, that he wasn't feeling well and can't get out of bed.

Our plans were canceled.

I felt bad for him. His only weekend off in a while and he has to stay in bed.

So now I had no plans with only about 6 hours left until shabbat comes in!

I had no idea what to do!

Carlos said that the person he set up for sleeping might be able to still have me and that he's an amazing person.

I felt a little strange about possibly going to spend shabbat (a weekend) with someone I never even met!!

I asked a few questions about his friend (Mordechai).
I was told that he's on the same page as me religiously and a great person, and that if I went I'd likely walk away with a lifelong friend.

So I agreed.

Within minutes Mordechai phoned me and said I was welcome to sleep at his place in Jerusalem and spend shabbat with him.

So I got on a bus and went to go meet my "not" friend..!

I arrived in Jerusalem 2 hours later and it was pouring rain.

I had called Mordechai and he said that I should meet him in the city center (Ben Yehuda street). So I got on an intercity bus and went to Ben Yehudah street.

Mordechai holding some groceries was standing in the pouring rain waiting for me.

I couldn't believe it.

A complete stranger is not only having me sleep at his apartment for the weekend, but also standing in the rain waiting for me because he was worried I wouldn't be able to find his apartment.

I walked back to his place, and I knew that this person is a rare find. A genuine, kind, loving, human being. I could feel it, Mordechai and I would be best friends for life.

To tell you the truth, the shabbat went amazing.
The meals were great, the people we met were incredible, and it was also new years eve that night.

It was a shabbat of new beginnings.

We clicked, connected, laughed, and embraced each others differences.

Today, Mordechai and I are great friends, and I think will always be.


I took a risk on friendship, I was spontaneous, I lived on the edge, and I think that's how life is lived best.



Magic.




LO
VE

Adam Ezekiel

They said it was impossible...

When I first drafted into the Israeli army my goal was to work in my field of health and fitness due to my university background in kinesiology.

I was told that things didn't work that easy. That the army administers many tests & depending on your Hebrew, your scores, and background they place you where they see fit.

After completing my basic training I had a meeting with an officer who's responsible for giving out jobs.

I asked him to work in fitness. He said it would be impossible.
I'm signed up for 6 months and that this was a job in high demand. It's a position generally given to those that are signed up for years. Even still, most people don't get the job.

I even met a person who went as far as going to army jail just to get the position because he wouldn't take no for an answer!

This officer said choose between (1) being a tank repairman, (2) an armored vehicle repairman, (3) army radio technician, (4) or truck driver because they're likely won't be any availability nor the opportunity to get into fitness education & instructing.

I chose my second choice as army radio technician for reasons beyond the scope of this blog. :-)

Ultimately the day arrived where we were all sent to our positions (for the above 4 mentioned jobs).

My name was not called.

The officer called me in his office and said looks like there's an open spot at the fitness institute of Israel (called Wingate Institute).

He said show up for an interview the following week.

I prepared like crazy! I reviewed my kinesiology textbooks. Practiced Hebrew, and asked G-d for some assistance. I even missed a party to get ready for this big day.

The moment arrived, I went to the army base (located on a university campus...unique I know!)

I got escorted to meet the top ranking officer of the base for a private meeting/job interview.

I smiled.

I saluted.

Shook his hand.

and in Hebrew said happy chanukah.

He asked me about my degree.

I told him about it.


He asked me if I wanted to serve at his base.

With a smile on my face, I said:

It would be my dream come true to serve at Wingate Institue for my passion is in fitness.

He smiled.

He said, I like your attitude. We could use you here.

You're in.



YES!
You read it!
I'm in one of the best programs in the army, in one of the nicest army bases on the planet. It's on the beach!

My dreams are coming true!!


LO
VE

Adam Ezekiel

The Army Experience

I have 1 more week left of basic training.

It has been such an eye opening experience.
From learning to shoot an M-16, sleeping in a tent with 12 other soldier's, learning about chemical warfare, being trained on first aid, learning how fight using a rifle (a.k.a Krav Maga) , forced to eat food in 10 minutes, guarding my base fully clipped in the middle of the night, needing permission to use the washroom, and being told what to do by younger people with higher ranks than me.

It's been a new way of life, and a tremendous growth period for me.

I'm quite confident to say I've made life long friends at base Machaneh Shmonim.
The beauty of basic training is that the people I befriended I would have never met had I not been drafted. I figure I've been on hundreds of buses and trains in Israel, but it's not like I introduce myself to everyone I see. So by being the army, I've been in tons of social interactions with so many soldier's, and done so much together with them that naturally friends are made.

Try to put yourself in my shoes.
I moved to Israel and started over with essentially zero friends.
Since I came I've been in 3 yeshiva's, 1 semi organic kibbutz, and now the army, it's been a great start to my story here in Israel.

I have much in common with many, and look forward to being apart of these amazing people's lives for the years ahead.

~

Another thing that's been on my mind is Judaism and the opportunity to practice my faith in the army.

Before I drafted I was warned that it would be hard to be spiritual and religious in the army.
I was written to from family, from friends, and rabbi's that it would be spiritually dangerous.

I want you and the world to know a few things.

The army gives you the right to pray the appropriate times a day needed.
The soldier's are fed kosher food and if need be you can even request 'Glatt' kosher' (an even higher standard of kosher food).
We get short breaks throughout the day to do whatever we want and if one wanted to one could learn Torah then.
And lastly I even made myself a friend that I generally learn Torah with every night before bed.

The army can be as spiritual as you want, the choice is yours, and I don't feel any pressure to drop my spiritual level, in fact the other soldiers some of which are secular have told me they appreciate my love for G-d and Torah and that it motivates them to grow.

Which leads me to a story that happened to me this week.
2 weeks ago I lost a really cool toiletry bag given to me by the army. It was filled with quality products I brought from Canada.
I had asked the commanders if someone had brought it in to them, they said no.

Life went on!

My incredible mom, who always comes through, gave me zip-up bag of her's and I filled it with new stuff.

Then this week after an intense cleaning of our tents a toiletry bag full of things was found in my tent that no one was claiming.
I got hold of the bag and thought to myself, all I really want is the bag! It's army colours and everything! Someone probably stole mine, what's wrong with taking someone elses.

Then another side of me thought, but how could steal someone's things.
I'm supposed to be a light in this world, not the darkness.
I can just buy a new a bag in some army store on my free time.
Besides I believe in G-d, and the sin of stealing isn't worth it to me for it would distance me from my Father in Heaven who loves me dearly and knows I could do better than that.

So I decided not to steal the bag, and chose to ask the other soliders in the other tents if anyone was missing their bag.

I entered the first tent I saw during my 1 hour of free time determined to find the person that lost their valuables.

I asked out-loud if someone was missing their toiletry bag and a solider and fellow friend responded "what's in it?"
I told him, "why don't you tell me what's in it!"
He smiled and said "I actually lost my bag this week and was given another from the commanders who claimed that it was given in by a solider a week earlier"
I asked him what was in his bag, he opened it up and it was all my things!!

Then I opened the bag I was holding for him and it was all his things!!

We were both stunned!

What are the chances of that happening!

I feel that it was a test for me.
Had I chosen to do bad, I would have gotten a toiletry bag indeed, but lost out on my things and stolen goods from a friend.
But by choosing to do good I was rewarded with my original toiletry bag and products.

What a beautiful world, and a meaningful one.

Basic Training 10 Days Deep

I'm in.

I'm in the heart of the country and you know what I feel the love.

The army is going incredible for me.

I wake up a little before 5am everyday when the stars are still shining brightly.
What a sight!

Then half of my unit join together for prayers in the army base's synagogue.

Then the day moves on to all kinds of training. From running, to push ups, and other exercises. Then we get weapon training, and all kinds of classes on all kinds of topics like safety, and history lessons on wars Israel has been through.

My faveorite part of the army are the people I've met.
I share a tent with 11 other incredible guys.


One of the guys is from Harvard, the funniest person ever! He brightens my day dearly!
Another guy, is from Scotland. He's blond with blue eyes, 6 foot something and a convert. He prays 3 times a day, puts on his tefillin, and get this... he's gay!
At least for me, that's an eye opening experience! He's actually one of the coolest people ever!

Im going to hang out with him tonight and a bunch of guys from the base. (We got out early from the army today).

I could go on about all the other guys, but all in time.

It's not all rainbow's and butterfly's.
The army definitely can get challenging.
We sleep in a tent.
We're always on the go, and have NO CONTROL!!
We are always told what to do.
You can't just sit down when you want, you're told what to wear and when to wear it, when to shave, o yeah and I carry an m-16 (a gun) everywhere including to bed! It's literally under my mattress when I sleep! I have to take it to the shower, bathroom, and to lunch, everywhere! It's like being in a serious serious relationship minus the whole going to the washroom together thing, and my gun doesn't speak or listen, and it's not human... ok so it's not like being in a relationship...

It's just always around, and if you get caught without it. BIG TROUBLE.

We don't get too many opportunities to use the phone, we eat good food- buffet style- however it's usually the same stuff (for example lunch alternates from hot dogs or shnitzel with rice, tons of vegetables and salads, white bread, potatoes, pasta, and more).

But hey, it's just a phase in life.

Ultimately I'm happy I signed up.
It's a fun experience and I'm learning a lot.

I would have never met these people otherwise, I'm also learning a lot about managing people by seeing how the army conducts it's enormous self, I'm pushing myself in a totally new direction, and ofcourse I'm serving the mother land.

So far so good!

Time to go out and enjoy myself!

LO
VE

Adam Ezekiel