A Soulful Journey

"A bore is a person, who, when you ask him how he is, tells you." - Bert Leston Taylor Being interested in the life, triumphs, and low points of another person's life make us most human. We can care not just about the survival of people around us but their psychic well being too. After all, when a person bleeds is not the only sign of danger. There are far deeper and more insidious dangers than bleeding. Our life view, the optimism that we carry, or the depression that we shoulder are just as significant as a physical ailment. The whole Torah is consumed with two primary ideas: 1. Knowing there is a God and to have a relationship with Him and 2. Behaving in a godly manner towards others. The second point can only be accomplished if we bother to care.

“America is a brutal land. Its language is violence and bloodshed. That is why (Rodney) King was beaten; that is why another King was assassinated.” Walter Mosely in the LA Times It is easy to become discouraged. What is fundamental to real living (and not just existing) is that we are at once challenged by life to make it better and not depressed by it in thinking that nothing will ever get better. God gave us the gift to conquer the worst part of our self.

When you are in pain it is hard to imagine someone else in pain. All we can think about is ourself. Yet, the world is not so closed that we are the only ones who feel crushed. Pain is ubiquitous: it is a frequent visitor to us and the rest of creation. “I read a joke in one of the columns that said you were playing golf on Long Island and the pro asked you for your handicap and you told him, “I’m a colored, one-eyed Jew – do you need anything else?” from Yes, I Can, Sammy Davis Jr.

In 1963 was a convention of the national Conference on Race and religion. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel was reluctant but finally agreed to speak. At that Chicago convention, Heschel stood next to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. That was the first time Dr King ever spoke before such a wide spectrum of religious leaders. Before 1700 people Heschel’s opening remarks began, “The First National Conference on Race and Religion took place in the palace of Pharaoh of Egypt when Moses said to Pharaoh “Let my people go!” The conference delegates, especially the Black delegates, exploded enthusiastically in their response. Time moves. The political landscape changes. There is progress. Yet, beyond all that is the critical notion that we have a basic responsibility for one another. We must ne the guardian’s of our brethren. We have experienced the same pains – all we have to do is remember and then we will respond to the rallying call against injustice.

The unexpected will happen when we are looking the other way. Real joy is measured in how we respond to those inglorious moments. We can choose anger, surprise, or other avenues…. A story was related about a wedding that was being held. The night before the big affair the last work was being done to the bride’s dress by the mother of the bride. She was hurrying to get it done and get a good night’s sleep so that she would enjoy the wonderful next day. In her rush, though, she forgot to hem up the bottom of the dress. The next day after the wedding ceremony had ended, the mother noticed that the dress was beginning to unravel. Other members of the party also noticed the tiny threads trailing behind the bride. That’s when the mother said in a loud, yet hushed voice, “That’s the last time we buy anything at Neiman Marcus!”

“Woe to me if I speak! Woe to me if I remain silent.” If these words are true, as they often are, which is better? Which is more moral? To speak out or refrain from saying anything?

It is good to laugh, especially when life is trying. It is really good to laugh at the travails we suffer from. In the moment of smiling and then letting out a hearty laugh we diminish the raw hurt. It instantly becomes smaller, less painful. "You can't blame Reagan for the deficit. It's not a job for a gentile. You need a Jewish president. Somebody who can show a profit for this country." Jackie Mason Find reason to laugh and express joy at what other wise might be painful. Besides, it feels a lot better!