A Soulful Journey

Rabbi Zushya once said: "I learned seven things from the thief: 1) What he does, he keeps to himself. 2) He is willing to take risks to attain his goal. 3) He does not distinguish between "major" and "minor" things, but takes equally exacting care of each and every detail. 4) He invests great effort in what he does. 5) He is swift. 6) He is always optimistic. 7) If at first he fails, he is back time and again for another try." We can learn from every one in every instance...if we are attentive.

  A man had written to the Rebbe in roughly these terms: “I am depressed. I am lonely. I feel that life is meaningless. I try to pray, but the words do not come. I keep mitzvot but find no peace of mind. I need the Rebbe’s help.” The Rebbe sent a brilliant reply without using a single word. He simply circled the first word of every sentence and sent the letter back. The word in each case was “I.” -Rabbi Jonathan Sacks To be happy is to realize it's about "us" not "me."

Professor Solomon Schechter, newly designated President of Jewish Theological Seminary (1902-1915),  frequently took part in the Christian-Jewish Relations Programs. He was once asked by a Christian lady, "Sir, don't you Jews believe in saints? We Christians always pray to our saints. But I never hear you Jews doing so." Prof. Schechter nodded in the affirmative. "Yes, Madame, we certainly have saints. But they are  indistinguishable from the rest of the congregation."   - Rabbi Murray Stadtmauer Is not every person a potential tzaddik?  Each person must be treated as such for if we err and wound one of these holy souls we may destroy a world.

Back in 1921 Charles Schwab was earning one million dollars each year.  He was hand  picked by Andrew Carnegie to construct the steel industry.  Why was he paid such an exorbitant amount?  Schwab admitted that he was paid this salary because of his unique ability to deal with people. Dale Carnegie interviewed him.   “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.“There is nothing else that so kills the ambitions of a person as criticisms from superiors. I never criticize any-one. I believe in giving a person incentive to work. So Iam anxious to praise but loath to find fault. If I like anything,I am hearty in my approbation and lavish in my praise."    How To Win Friends and Influence People It is much easier to find fault than praise but what does it benefit  the person who receives it?  More, how does it  ...

Man was created to sing, to sing an internal song, the song of the soul. Thus, we find in the midrash: The world was thereof formless and empty, He stood and created the world, and He created man and gave him authority over all goodness in order to praise Him. - Midrash Socher Tov 99. Sing full-throated and let it rebound in every universe.  It is our calling to express our soul's song.

Robert Kennedy observed, “Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.”  What we focus on steers our life. If we choose the  path of living in the darkness of regret that become the road we tread.  If, on the other hand, we elect of glean lessons from our shortcomings we gain the mantle of wisdom. Further, as Richard Bach wrote, “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly.” Search for what we can become, reach outward but do not dwell what has happened in the past. Learn. Grow. Become.