There was once a rabbi that was talking between mincha and maariv
about the importance of prayer and how that enables one to have a relationship
with G-d. One of his congregants responded "enough about G-d -- let's
start services".
That is not my favorite joke, but it
highlights a sobering thought.
As we find ourselves in month of Elul, it
is important to reassess our most important priorities. I think something that
has got to be on this list is our relationship with G-d. In this case, I am
also (although not exclusively) referring to the people that live committed
lives as Orthodox Jews. We are so focused on keeping the the mitzvos (which is
a wonderful thing), but do we think about who authored these laws and why we
are engaged in them ?
We have to take a step back and realize how we got to this point.
The Creator of the world created Man in order to have a relationship with Him
and that we can be recipients of His kindness. The vehicle we have in our lives
to have that connection is the Torah and Mitzvos (good deeds). Yet, sometime we
are not focused on the ultimate goal which is obviously having a meaningful
relationship with our Creator.
We are reminded of this every day during
Elul at the conclusion of services. It is customary to recite Chapter 27 of
Psalms. King David writes in this chapter "
I have one request and that is what I truly desire: That I should dwell in
house of G-d all the days of my life and see His pleasantness".
The question that I have -- is that even on
our radar screen? How prominent in our daily thoughts is this concept? When you
consider doing a mitzva, is the G-d factor part of the equation?
On occasion it is important to remind
ourselves of the most important things in life. I think having this discussion is
one of those topics.
Please share your thoughts.
If the G-d factor is not part of our thought process when doing a mitzvah, then doing it must be just because it is considered socially correct. But to be socially correct it has to be for a purpose, otherwise, what would it matter? Do it – don’t do it, who cares? Dwell on what that purpose is, and the G-d factor moves to the forefront each and every time. To improve our relationship, we should seek to please Hashem and take a split second to recognize He was, is, and always will be everything. Even when it seems bad, it’s good, though our knowledge of how that can be is certainly lacking.
ReplyDeleteMitzvahs are derived from the Torah, and Torah encompasses all manner of perfection and quality to be found in the world … His world. If that’s not a G-d factor, what is?