A Soulful Journey

  When the Lord created Adam, the first being, He took the man through the Garden of Eden.  "See My works.  Look at how exquisite they are!  All that has been created is for you.  Do not spoil or desecrate this word because there is no one to repair it after you." Kohelet Rabbah 7:13  

"Even those things which you may regard as completely superfluous to the creation of the world such as flea, gnats and flies; even they are included in the creation of the world and carry out the Divine purpose through everything - even snake, scorpion or frog!" - Beresheit Rabbah Our sages fully understood the vital importance of all that exists not he planet.  Everything that God made had a purpose.  Everything.

There is a story told in the Talmud about a wise man named Honi, the Circle Drawer who one day came upon an elderly man planting a carob tree. Honi asked the man, "How long do you think it take for that tree to bear fruit?" The man replied, "Seventy years." Honi then asked the man, "And do you think you will live another seventy years to eat the fruit of this tree?" And the elder answered, "Perhaps not. However, when I was born, I found many carob trees planted by my father and grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and grandchildren."  - Talmud, retold by Rabbi Irwin Huberman

A child being scolded for a poor report card asked, "Dad, what do you think is the trouble with me - heredity or environment?" In our lifetime we want to make other's conform to what we think is correct.  More than likely they will not change because of us.  The only real control we have in our lives is over ourselves.  So blame no one for your shortcomings or the world's problems.  Be the best you can be.

"One may not turn a field into a yard, nor a yard into a field, nor a yard into a city, nor a city into a yard." -Talmud Arachin 33b As long ago as 2,000 years the rabbis were concerned that able land needed to be protected.  What does this say about our time and our responsibility to protect our  environment?

"As we were walking, I plucked some flower or plant.  Rabbi Kook [then Chief Rabbi of Israel] trembled and told me that he took great care not to pluck anything unless it was for a benefit.  Anything that could grow...there was no plant below that did not have a guardian above.  Everything that grew said something, every stone whispered some secret, all creation sang."  - Arye Levine

A Pawnee Indian said: In the beginning of all things, wisdom and knowledge with the animal. For Tirawa, the One Above, did not speak directly to man. He sent certain animals to tell mankind that he showed himself through the beast.  And that from them, and from the stars and sun, man should learn.”   -Joseph Campbell,  The Power of Myth

Moses was sitting in the Egyptian ghetto. Things were terrible: Pharaoh wouldn't even speak to him. The rest of the Israelites were mad at him and making the overseers even more irritable than usual, etc. He was about ready to give up.      Suddenly a booming, sonorous voice spoke from above:      "You, Moses, heed me !  I have good news, and bad news."      Moses was staggered. The voice continued:      "You, Moses, will lead the People of Israel from bondage. If Pharaoh refuses to release your bonds, I will smite Egypt with a rain of frogs"      "You, Moses, will lead the People of Israel to the Promised Land. If Pharaoh blocks your way, I will smite Egypt with a plague of Locust."      "You, Moses, will lead the People of Israel to freedom and safety. If  Pharaoh's army pursues you, I will part the waters of the Red Sea to open your path to the Promised La...

As an usher in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Charlotte, N.C., I had the duty of giving the pastor his cloak after the service to ward of the cold as he greeted parishioners. Every week, Miss Agnes, a retired schoolteacher and lifetime member of the church, would shake the pastor's hand and eloquently praise the sermon.  One Sunday, he jovially questioned her about his sermon’s content.  Miss Agnes failed the quiz, but refused to let him have the last word. “I guess I’m like a wicker basket,” she said.  “If you put me down a well an bring me up, I don’t hold much water, but I feel a whole lot cleaner.” –Robert Kephart Being in good places will have its effect on our soul.  Where we are, the people with whom we surround ourselves makes all the difference.