A Soulful Journey

“There is nothing new under the sun.”    -Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) .  That which has been, will be again.  Here is the real task of a meaningful life: Can we learn from our mistakes and become a finer, greater and more responsible person than we were yesterday?

Why did Joshua, in ordering the sun to stand still, use the word "dom" (meaning silence) rather than "omade" (still).  The Midrash Tanhuma answered that as long as the sun continues to move it sings praise to God.  When it ceases to move, it ceases to praise. All nature sings to the Lord.  Even at this moment, praises abound, ascending toward the Holy One, blessed be He, from the most tender shoot to the cosmos.

When Adam first saw the setting sun he cried, "Woe! I must have committed a sin for which the world is growing dark and reverts to its original chaotic state.  This is the death decreed by heaven for me!" Adam sat up all night fasting and weeping; Eve weeping at his side (k'negdo).  But then as the sun began to rise in its first rays of daylight, Adam declared, "This is part of the way of the world.  This is part of the way of the world!"  - Avodah Zarah 8a

There are times when some luminaries outshine all else.  The sun when it shines, for example, makes it impossible to see other stars. A Philadelphia Phillies captain once delivered to the umpires before the game the lineup card. It read with a notation is the ninth spot - the pitcher's place - "Willoughby and the others" for the batting order.   - George Will

Kahlil Gibran wrote of people who stand with their backs to the sun and what is the sun to them but the caster of shadows? It is not easy to stand in the glare of the sun but it the way we face our fears.

A human told the sun he had found one place on earth that was eternally dark.   "Nonsense," scoffed the sun.  He searched every place but could not even find a hint of shadow.  -Bennett Cerf We can only see as far as our mind will allow.

The midrash tells of God's offer to the moon.  The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the moon that it would reign in the daytime.  However, the moon fiercely objected saying that a candle in the daylight was useless.   - Bereshit Rabba Isn't this foolish?  The moon complaining to God?   And yet. This is the worst of the human condition, when we are unhappy because someone has more than we. Question: Who is more foolish?