Back by popular demand, here is a moment to get over ourselves, remember to add something positive to the world, and realize we cannot control everything in our lives all of the time. Even G-d stopped to appreciate what He had done.
It is our call as humans to be G-dlike. This does not mean that we are to believe we are G-d, but to emulate those attributes of the Lord that we are able to as humans. To make the right decisions, be holy, and appreciate what we create, and what is created for us. In our increasingly hectic lives this might seem like an impossible task. Especially when it comes to those things we consider insignificant and mundane. We do so to our own demise!
In our daily rush, we must not dismiss the mundane, and the seemingly unimportant, but instead realize that everything and every act is as it was designed to be, all part of His plan, and all miracles. From the stubbed toe, to the restroom, to the big business deal, to the conflict with our spouse, to how we treat our family, spouses, friends, and enemies, to even what we type on this blog. (see below the fold an amazing article on appreciating the mundane, and bringing meaning to your every moment)
Fitting then that this Sunday is Mother’s Day, because who transforms the supposedly mundane into the holy and brilliant more often, and more humbly than our mothers and our wives? Their acts for our children, for their men, and around our homes usually go unnoticed as “mundane” everyday necessities, yet it is these acts which transform our world more than anything else.
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By the time the Almighty made mothers, he was into His sixth day and working overtime. An Angel appeared and said “Why are You spending so much time on this one?”
And the Almighty answered and said, “Have you seen the spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have 200 movable parts, all replaceable, run on black coffee and leftovers, have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart, and have six pairs of hands.” The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. “Six pairs of hands! No Way!” said the Angel.
The Almighty replied, “Oh, it’s not the hands that are the problem. It’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers must have!” “And that’s just on the standard model?” the Angel asked.
The Almighty responded, “Yep, one pair of eyes are to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing, even though she already knows. Another pair in the back of her head are to see what she needs to know even though no one thinks she can. And the third pair are here in the front of her head. They are for looking at an errant child and saying that she understands and loves him or her without even saying a single word.”
The Angel tried to stop the Almighty. “This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish.”
“But I can’t!” the Almighty protested, “I am so close to finishing this creation; it’s so close to my own heart.
The Angel moved closer and touched the woman. “But you have made her so soft, Almighty.”
“She is soft,” the Almighty agreed, “but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.”
“Will she be able to think?” asked the Angel.
The Almighty replied, “Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason, and negotiate.”
The Angel then noticed something and reached out and touched the woman’s cheek. “Oops, it looks like you have a leak with this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.”
“That’s not a leak”, the Almighty objected, “That’s a tear!”
“What’s the tear for?” the Angel asked.
The Almighty said, “The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her disappointment, her pain, her loneliness, her grief, and her pride.”
The Angel was impressed. “You are a genius, Almighty. You thought of everything. WOMEN are truly amazing!”
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To those that celebrate, have a wonderful and meaningful Shabbat! To those who do not, have a great weekend, and Mother’s Day. Appreciate what you have, and what your mothers and wives add to your life -they are truly Women of Valor. This weekend, take some time off to contemplate and fully appreciate it! (Telling them how much you appreciate it wouldn’t hurt either)
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“The average person will spend 13-15 years of their life eating, another two years in the bathroom, four years commuting, and 26 years sleeping!”
THE TOTAL IS NO MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
Granted, on a day-to-day basis, many of us don’t feel life’s banality. That is only because we break up the many meaningless activities into small segments. But no matter how hard we try, those segments add up to create the general texture of life.
Subconsciously we are always taking an inventory of our lives. We have a sense of our total losses and gains. If the majority of life is spent in the mundane and we do not make that mundane meaningful, then accordingly, we will feel that life lacks substantive meaning.
When God created human beings, He could have made it so that we’d spend little or no time sleeping or using the bathroom. But the reality is that we have to do a lot of mundane things! Clearly then, a meaningful life can only be had if we deal properly with the mundane – not run from it or avoid it. The solution is that the mundane needs to be made more meaningful.
THE BIG ISSUES
Ironically, the really key issues of life are therefore in the realm of the mundane. Even such “ultimate” issues as world peace, human rights, etc., must sometimes step aside for food, the bathroom, and sleep.
According to Judaism, every aspect of life has purpose. No part of life is irrelevant or “mundane.” All of life is meaningful and therefore worthy of our attention.
This sometimes may seem petty in practice. For example, many feel that Kashrut (the Jewish dietary laws) as well as other similar details are inconsequential. But these details are in fact the keys to unlocking the meaning in the mundane.
The mundane is mundane, but it’s not trivial.
THE CHALLENGE
Some human activities have more meaning than others. For example, a person is going to get more meaning out of teaching a child than painting the house.
However, this week’s Parsha gives us the secret for taking the most insignificant activity and turn it into one of ultimate meaning. What is it? The Mitzvah to “sanctify the name of God” (Leviticus 22:32).
Every action we perform becomes an opportunity waiting to be made as meaningful as the effort the person is willing to put in. Every moment can therefore be transcendent.
THE MECHANICS OF THE CONCEPT
Judaism says that man was created for just one reason -pleasure. This is humanity’s only real striving. It is at the root of all our energies. The more pleasure or meaning someone thinks he will get, the more effort he will exert.
Judaism says that the greatest pleasure is God. That’s because the very essence of God is good. (In fact, the two words are etymologically identical.)
Everyone would be good if they thought it was pleasurable. Unfortunately, “being good” has bad PR! Many people see being good as boring or even painful. But each of us has the opportunity to add some positive PR to the other side of the ledger. If we do the right thing – and look like we’re enjoying it – then others will want to emulate us.
Doing what is moral and enjoying it because it’s the right thing, demonstrates to others where real meaning is to be found. And showing people “meaning” through your actions, is not only more effective than lecturing or writing about it, but it is also more meaningful to you – the instructor. It boosts that same activity to a far higher level and becomes a source of value and meaning for you the doer.
APPLYING THE CONCEPT
Let’s take an example found in everyday life.
Today unfortunately, almost anything to do with the woman’s role is demeaned. Not simply housework – but even raising children is belittled. It has an image of being dull and unimportant. Imagine, however, a woman who exudes fulfillment in this role. The impact on society would be tremendous!
Charity is another area that is often looked upon as a necessary evil. A person could have an everlasting effect on others if he were to view his gifts as pleasurable opportunities rather than burdens. Just imagine how much you could inspire others if you showed them by example the joy of giving!
Life needn’t be mundane. People spend immense amounts of time looking for financial opportunities. Use that same drive to find meaningful opportunities in the mundane places of life. The payoff is of a considerably higher order.
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Tags: Mothers, Open thread, Shabbat, Soap Box, Women
