A Soulful Journey

" Great things are done  when men and mountains meet."  - William Blake These are challenging times.  We need to call upon our inner resources to plumb depths and climb mountains.  When we rise to such challenges we achieve new heights of personal growth. Challenge yourself.

Rashi once said, "When I meet God, I am not going to be afraid.  He is going to say, "Rashi, why weren't you Abraham?" or "Why weren't you Moses?" I am afraid he will ask, "Rashi, why weren't you Rashi?" While this story is told in different ways it may be because we need to take the challenge personally.  This is not about some distant historical figure, it is the challenge we face during our short lifespan.

"Torah is only acquired with companions." -Berachot 63b It is easy to misinterpret anything in accord with our preconceptions.  That is why "truth" (i.e., Torah) is apprehended when we study it with people who challenge our beliefs.

An aged tribal leader was facing a rebellion.   Youthful warriors wanted to take over and embarrass the leadership.   They decided to hold a bird before the leader and ask him to say whether it was alive or dead. If he answered “alive” they would squeeze the bid’s neck and show how wrong he was.   If the leader said it was dead they would release the bird to the air and prove he erred. The group came before the leader holding the helpless bird and asked the chief, “Is the bird alive or dead?” He wisely answered, ”The choice is in your hands.” Stories are told to express morals.   Some lessons are clear and universal while others are specific.   This tale is one of the latter.   So, the question comes to the heart to the reader: What does this mean?

Three men were sitting in a hospital waiting room. Anxiously they waited for news of an impending delivery. A nurse came in and announced to the first, “Congratulations! You are the father of twins!”“Wow!” he shouted. “And I play for the Minnesota Twins!” A while later, a second nurse enters and says to the next man, “You are the proud father of triplets!” “Amazing!” he cried. “I work for 3M!” The third man then excitedly jumped out of his seat. “I am in trouble. I work for 7 Up.” Challenges in life are many. With every challenge comes an opportunity, though. The challenge is like a pod. Peel away the outer layer, which may take some effort, and inside you will find a new growth. Just for you.