A Soulful Journey

“If a man does not judge himself, all things judge him, and all things become messengers of God.” – Nachman of Bratslav ”If I do not accept responsibility for the evil I do, the very earth will rise up to judge and condemn me. The stars, the trees in the wind will provide sentence…”   -Julius Lester

“I am a creature of God And my neighbor is also a creature of God. My work is in the city And his work is in the field. I rise the morning to go to my work And he rises in the morning to go to his work. As he cannot excel my work, So I cannot excel in his work. Perhaps you will say that I do great things And he doesn’t small things. We have learned that it does not matter, only if he directs his heart to Heaven.” – berachot 17a

A famous woman met an old friend, now a laborer. “How are you?” she asked her friend. “Making a living,” came the reply.   “And how about you?” “Oh, I have tsooris , but tell me what do you do?” “I make a living rom writing.” “Is that so?   From writing?? Do you know it never entered my head to take up such a business?” From the outside all else looks simple, easy.   In this story the questioner assumes that writing is as simple as, well, writing.   But it, like other professions, is a honed skill.   Not only does everyone have his or her place but we all work to refine our profession. Moral?   Do not assume anyone’s job or craft is simple.

In Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah, Nasso, the Gibeonites are defined as “heathens who have taken on the laws and customs of Israel but have chosen to remain apart from the Jewish community.”   The same text elaborates, “From here we learn how far the Holy One blessed be He, drawing near to those far removed, even extending this to converts who have ulterior motives.”   (8:4) It is easy to define ourselves as better than “they” (whoever the “they” is).   Yet, God Himself reaches out beyond the scope of parochialism to embrace those who may eventually find their way.