"God guards all God's loves and the Negative God destroys." (Ashrei Prayer)
The verses of this prayer, as I am 'davening' them in these writings, are so powerful and teach me how brilliant the Psalmist is! I have to remember that I/we are all protected by God by loving God, God's creations and ourselves. I am thinking of Rabbi Hillel's words, "If I am not for myself who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?" I have to be for me and for you and for we and for all. There can be no distinction based on race, color, creed, religion, etc. I/we have to guard ourselves and another in order to fulfill this verse.
Also, we have to discern the negativity in ourselves,others and the world. Not to destroy people or the earth, only to root out and destroy the negativity that doesn't serve God. The Yetzer HaRa can serve God as we saw in an earlier prayer (Y'Hi Ratzon) and it can destroy the positive and good in the world and in us. We/I have to work with another(s) to root out and transform the negative impulses such as greed, false ego, entitlement, etc. in order to guard love and joy.
1) How am I helping myself and another to guard what is loving and good in us/the world?
2) How am I riding myself of the "eye disease" of prejudice?
3) What are the ways I help myself and another to transform the negativity in us to serve God and the world?