This Friday marks the beginning of the month of Adar.
As we have already explained several times, each period of time has a certain energy that is what generates the special event that occurred, at some time, at that special moment.
This can also be seen in the blessing we say, for example, on Hanukkah and Purim, that God "performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time." One way to understand this blessing is that God did indeed perform the miracle a considerable number of years ago ("in those days"), but the same energy is present right now ("at this time").
Regarding the month of Adar, the Megillah of Esther (the biblical text read on Purim day and night) contains a verse indicating that the entire month of Adar possesses a general energy (in addition to the individual energy of each day). The verse is "the month that was transformed from sorrow to joy" (Esther 20:20).
This month's energy is transformation. Generally, we think of transformation as something changing from one state to another. For example, water at room temperature is liquid, but when it's heated to 100 degrees Celsius, it "transforms" into steam. First there's water, then there's steam.
However, the story of Purim and this verse from the Purim reading teach us a deeper level of transformation.
To give a more relatable example of serving God: it may happen that one has done something in practice that causes suffering. With proper repentance and return to God (Teshuvah), one can transform that dark past into something positive. As in the case of water, first there was one thing, and then it transformed into another.
But on Purim it was different: the transformation of Purim was such that even before Haman's decree of physical destruction of the Jewish people materialized (God forbid), immediately when the people heard about the possibility of their annihilation, they strengthened their bond with the Torah and the Mitzvot, generating that transformation of which the Megillah speaks.
This idea can be applied in different contexts, such as Jewish education, assimilation, lack of values, etc. When community leaders (or a child's parents) even feel that continuing on their current path might lead to a loss of continuity, they should know that changing course is within their power. As we learn from the story of Purim, connecting with the Torah and the Mitzvot has the power to reveal the transformative energy contained within the month of Adar. We shouldn't wait for the decree to materialize before trying to transform it...
This impressive energy begins to reveal itself on the first day of the month of Adar and increases as the month progresses. It's simply a matter of harnessing it while it's available.