If Not Now, When?

The purpose of this blog is to up the wisdom at the Shabbat table.... Please print and share, and forward...
 

Yesterday evening I found myself in typical rush-hour traffic on the DC beltway.

I ordinarily do everything possible to avoid rush-hour traffic. Yesterday, I had no alternative.

Does this ever happen to you?

Is this "life back to normal"???

What happened to those inspirational moments of the High Holidays - including Sukkos and Simchat Torah, which only ended two days ago??

I don't want to lose those moments of inspiration. The past couple weeks' emails have been attempts to hold on to them.

For instance, last week's story ended with an open-ended question for your table about mastering a skill.

This rush-hour-traffic experience reminds me of two perspectives from Jewish wisdom:

1. The greatest skill anyone can master is the ability to live with serenity in the present moment.

Like physical sills, this skill of mindfulness takes much practice. Yet unlike physical skills, mindfulness can be mastered by anyone. 

2. Nothing you accomplish or create or earn or build in this world will stay with you beyond this world, save the wisdom that you achieve. Your wisdom will be your wisdom for all of eternity.

These two ideas lead to three questions for your table:

Is serenity a type of wisdom?
Why do most people seem to pursue anything but wisdom?
Is learning new information the same as achieving wisdom?


Shabbat Shalom
 

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