Today, each of us is fighting Esavs battle: body versus soul. The multi-billion-dollar media machine constantly entices us to buy into the lifestyle of Instantaneous-ism. Between fast-food, iPad, streaming-hands-free-one-click-ordering, weve become accustomed to a world where immediacy is the norm. The affect is that weve lost our sense of perspective. Marketing experts dont want us to mature. They want us to remain in our impulsive, ego-driven demand for games and instant fun. To win the battle, we must be pro-active in undertaking spiritual activities. Something as simple as saying a blessing over food turns a physical act into a spiritual experience. We reflect on the deeper aspect of eating as a way to give the body energy to then fulfill a higher purpose. The mere pause is a counter-balance to instantaneous urge. Rabbi Alexander Ziskind (19th century Europe) had the custom of breaking his Yom Kippur fast with boney fish. This forced him to eat slowly and not gorge the food. In the throes of hunger, the rabbi was determined that his soul maintain control over his body. Our ability to moderate (not squelch, but curb) the bodys needs gives us the freedom to pursue the needs of the soul. Because when all is said and done, our lives are only as good as the soul weve nurtured. Next time youre at a funeral, listen closely to the eulogy. You will never hear about what kind of car he drove, how many different restaurants he visited, or how much money he shrewdly invested. At that moment of everlasting truth, what is truly important is being a devoted parent, donating money to build a hospital, caring for others, and personal integrity.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:08:39 +0000
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