Daily Proverbs with Adam Qadmon
Adam Qadmon dives into the book of Proverbs. Our prayer is that you take a quick moment to read the Proverb and then listen to the podcast for that day. Together we explore how ancient wisdom is still very much alive.
John & Kim
Daily Proverbs with Adam Qadmon
Proverbs 15:30 - The Sparkle Effect
A single sparkle in the eye changes everything. This transformative moment, captured in a deeply personal journal entry, forms the heart of our exploration into how inner states become visible and contagious.
We begin with raw vulnerability—a writer's painful memory of visiting their grandfather in the hospital. The stark contrast between remembering him vibrant and seeing him frail creates a somber backdrop that makes what follows all the more powerful. Against all expectations, when the grandfather turns and recognizes his visitor, joy spreads across his face, complete with that unmistakable sparkle returning to his eyes. This tiny visual cue becomes the emotional pivot point, triggering a profound sense that everything would somehow be alright, despite circumstances remaining unchanged.
Beyond the personal narrative, this episode delves into the science and spirituality of emotional presence. We examine how our brains are wired to read subtle emotional cues in others, and how authentic inner states—whether framed as spiritual wellness or psychological resilience—manifest externally in ways that impact everyone in our orbit. The journal's moving prayer captures this beautifully: "May the joy and peace of my relationship with you show from my face and shine forth from my body."
What sparkle might you be carrying in your own life? How might your inner state—your joy, peace, or resilience—be affecting those around you, perhaps in ways you don't even recognize? Listen now and consider what unseen light inside you might shine through, even when things feel dark. Then share your thoughts with us—we'd love to hear about the moments when someone's inner light has transformed your experience.
Proverbs 15:30
Genesis 5:2
Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today we're looking at a really personal piece, a journal entry from July 21st. It's about visiting a grandfather in the hospital and our aim really is to explore what this tells us about, you know, being present, connection and maybe that inner spirit we all have.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a fascinating entry. It really highlights how our expectations can just get completely flipped by actual human moments, especially around illness and vulnerability.
Speaker 1:OK, so the author kicks things off, remembering their grandfather as well, full of life. But the last memory wasn't like that at all. It was frail even using the word pathetically lying in a hospital bed and there's this really raw, almost painful thought about wanting his suffering to end. It sets a pretty somber scene.
Speaker 2:It really does. It taps into that feeling of helplessness when you see someone you love, declining that initial image. It clearly weighs heavily on the author's mind going into this visit.
Speaker 1:Right. But then there's the shift, a real pivot. They arrive and the grandfather isn't lying down as expected. He's actually sitting up and as he turns, the journal describes this immediate look of joy spreading across his face. That's quite a powerful contrast, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It really speaks to the dynamic nature of people. You know, even when someone's quite ill, that flash of joy suggests something resilient inside, something beyond just a physical condition.
Speaker 1:And this next detail. This really jumped out at me. The sparkle in his eye the author realizes that's what was missing before Seeing it brings this wave of well, peace. The journal says a feeling he'd be all right.
Speaker 2:It's sort of amazing how potent such a small visual thing can be. Why do you think that hits so hard?
Speaker 1:Well, it's fascinating, isn't it? Our brains are just wired to read these subtle cues, cues that sparkle. It likely signals mention of feeling good around them, connecting it to God's love coming from a filled human heart. It's this idea of the internal showing externally.
Speaker 2:Right. And if you think about that more broadly, it relates to things like positive emotional contagion. When someone genuinely feels that inner peace or joy it can sort of ripple outwards. You know, you can make others feel more comfortable, more at ease.
Speaker 1:Which brings us back to that moment in the hospital room, doesn't it? That power of connection, the grandfather's visible joy that sparkle it completely transformed the author's own feelings, gave them peace, hope, even though the situation itself is still difficult. It's like his inner state became, I don't know, a shared resource.
Speaker 2:Exactly it shows connection is more than just being in the same room. It's an exchange, maybe emotional, maybe even spiritual energy. His inner well-being offered comfort to his visitor.
Speaker 1:The entry wraps up with a prayer. It goes may the joy and peace of my relationship with you show from my face and shine forth from my body. I want everyone to know that I am yours and that you make all the difference in the world. Amen.
Speaker 2:This feels like it ties everything together, that desire for the interstate to be well visible.
Speaker 1:It's a beautiful way to put it. It's asking for that internal peace, that joy found in faith, be so real, so profound that it actually changes your physical presence, how you appear to others. It becomes a kind of testimony.
Speaker 2:So I guess the main takeaway here is just how powerful and how immediate the impact of things like joy and connection and that inner spirit can be, both for the person feeling it and for everyone around them. Even when things are really tough, that visible spark of joy can bring real peace.
Speaker 1:Precisely. It's a good reminder, I think, that even in difficult times, our inner world, our capacity for genuine connection, that can be truly transformative. Yeah, and maybe that leaves you, the listener, with something to think about. What about the sparkles in your own life, your own interactions? What inner stuff joy maybe, peace, resilience are you carrying, and how might that be affecting people around you? Maybe in ways you don't even see, what's the unseen light inside you that might just shine through even when things feel dark.