There is a beautiful Midrashic tale of a leaf. Attached to its tree the leaf resented its mooring. It did not wish to be a continual slave to the tree. Fervently the leaf wished to be a maple, a stately oak or even a smaller tree, just not a measly weak leaf clinging, no stuck, to the tree. The leaf wanted desperately to fly and soar in the wind like the birds who were carried on the invisible air currents. It dreamed and prayed of such freedom.
Suddenly a wind came and snatched the leaf from its perch on the tree. It fluttered and turned over in the wind. Turning like a ballerina in midair the leaf gradually fell to the ground. There it lay.
After a while the leaf began to curl and shrivel and shrink.
Then came fall. The leaf was soaked, crushed and trammeled.
He said, "I thought I would be free, but I was wrong."
-tanhuma ki tisa
Freedom is larger and far greater than independence. Freedom is knowing where our roots lie and choosing to remain anchored to them. Yes, freedom is always a choice; the choice is ours to be connected or disconnected.
Suddenly a wind came and snatched the leaf from its perch on the tree. It fluttered and turned over in the wind. Turning like a ballerina in midair the leaf gradually fell to the ground. There it lay.
After a while the leaf began to curl and shrivel and shrink.
Then came fall. The leaf was soaked, crushed and trammeled.
He said, "I thought I would be free, but I was wrong."
-tanhuma ki tisa
Freedom is larger and far greater than independence. Freedom is knowing where our roots lie and choosing to remain anchored to them. Yes, freedom is always a choice; the choice is ours to be connected or disconnected.
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