A Soulful Journey

“God is silent…now if we can only get Man to shut up.”  -Woody Allen Speaking is easy.  Listening is an art.

Said the Dubner:   “A student wrote a letter to his father, asking for extra spending money.   The father’s secretary read the lad’s letter to his employer in a loud, harsh voice: “Father, send money immediately; I need shoes and an overcoat.”   The father became incensed at the seemingly impolite tone of his son’s letter and refused to answer him.   Later he gave the same letter to his wife to read.   She read it in a low tone of modesty and entreaty.   The father, thereupon, wrote out a check and instructed his wife to mail it to his son. From this letter we learn that he who prays quietly makes a better impression that a noisy worshipper.”   - Newman, Maggidim and Hasidim In prayer, the act matters.  What makes a prayer rise swiftly is how we employ our heart and head when we utter the words.

"If you can't improve on silence, don't try. "  - -Maine saying   Often times the world is much better off with active listening than talking.

It was announced one day that the king was to ride through the city where Rav Sheshet lived.   Rav Sheshet was blind but went with all the other inhabitants to greet the king.   A fool taunted him, calling out, “We are all gathered here because we have eyes to see the king but why are you here?” Suddenly a loud blare of trumpets was heard and a magnificent chariot rolled by.   “That is the king!” the fool shouted. “No it is not,” Rav Sheshet replied. Several other chariots passed, accompanied by bands of music, but Rav Sheshet paid them no attention.   Soon one passed quietly, without drums or trumpets.   “Now,” said the blind sage, “Comes the king.” “How do you know?” asked the fool.   “You are blind.” “Our Almighty God acts in the same way.   There are storms typhoons, earthquakes, but Godhood sails majestically, peacefully, without a sound.” Moral: Real kavvanah is not noise-filled but comes in quiet moment...