I’m sure by now you know that I’m a reasonably religious fellow. (No, I did not say I was reasonable; I said that my religion is a basic foundation of my life 🙂 ). And, given that, I believe that the Supreme Being (SB) created this world in 6 days. Now, let’s not worry about the literal sense, since the Tora defines a day as evening and morning. Given the fact that there were no luminaries at first and the world may or may not have been spinning, that first day could have been a millennium or a 1000 millennia using our chronometers.
The concept I am using here is that the SB created this world. Like we make new products. They are never perfect. They are good- which is exactly what the SB called each day (except for Tuesday, upon which the SB uttered it twice). And, then, SB kind of withdrew from this world- to let mankind take over and perfect the world. Which is our charge on this earth- to work each day to make this place just a little bit better than it was when we got here.
But, there’s this other countervailing issue. One that we sometimes forget. Sometimes, we get so busy doing these things that we think honors the SB that we get a little caught up in our own selves. We’re pretty proud of ourselves, we’re great, we are religious, and we prove it with our time and money.
But, that’s wrong. We are no longer doing our designed mission- unless our mission is self-aggrandizement. It’s why the SB commanded each of the folks to give a half-shekel or a shekel. Oh, that was for census purposes, too. But, it also meant each of us were equally contributing.
But, the SB conveyed even more to us. When the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, was to be built, after the Golden Calf, the folks gave tons of gold for the cause. To fix (in their minds) what they had broken, to make things right. But, even this response was not right- the people were commanded… “No man or woman shall do further work for the offering of the sanctuary. And, the people were restrained from giving. (Shmot/Exodus 36:5-6)
It’s the same today when we want to help our children or our staff members. We tend to do a little ‘too’ much. Which can prevent the people we claim to be helping from reaching their own pinnacles. We need to give them the space to create and do. Just like the SB gave mankind, to make this world a better place.
It’s a fine line that we have to learn to discern.
we have a saying in germany
“i am helping you so you will be able to help yourself”
maybe that give the right balance for help but not too much.
when creating things – no matter if it is a creator of the world like we can read in the book genesis or just we by baking a bread, knitting a pullover or writing a blog … it happens that we make mistakes, things are good but not perfect!
you can not learn from perfectism but you can learn from mistakes, how to make it better.
and allowing our children or friends to make mistakes, their own mistakes, we help them better as if we can do by doing it ourselves.
great post roy 🙂
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Helen:
I love your additions! That amplifies the points of the blog perfectly.
Thanks so much!
Roy
I was at a conference this past weekend and one of my favorite speakers was Rabbi Daniel Lapin. He said that one of the reasons we are here is to also help other human beings. And that brings about betterment for others and also for ourselves. God is always willing to bless those who blesses others. He was a great speaker! If you don’t know of him you should check him out.
He’s a bit right wing for my tastes, Shawn. I tend to be way to the other side of the spectrum (which, I know confounds many who don’t associate that with my religious observances).
Roy
While I am not able to comment too much on the religious aspect of your post I can comment on the doing too much part. As a teacher I see this all the time. Parents don’t understand that their job is to teach children how to be able to help themselves. And as I recall from my Sunday School days isn’t that one of the things we learn? The God prefers to help those who help themselves?
Bonnie recently posted..Do this instead!
That’s the point exactly, Bonnie!
Thanks for sharing that key facet.
Roy
Hey Roy,
My mom always told us this when we were kids -The SB made the world and made it function all properly. Then he made humans and gave them brains and the resources; now is it up to humans to take care of it or to destroy it; the SB will help you time and again and that will be called “miracle” by some and “luck” by others. But the fact will remain that the SB made the world your playground; now it is up to you to give others that playground. Don’t ever stop anyone from entering that playground; it is theirs just as much as it is yours.
I hope every parent takes something from us; but more importantly, every human takes something from this.
Hajra recently posted..Better with the lights switched off!
Love that, Hajra!
Thanks for adding that great point from your mom!
Roy
The thing about religion is that, although it is “about” God, it is practiced in terms of human needs. We need to feel connected to God, so we practice “religion”. Does God need this? Does God even have such a concept of “need”? As humans, confined to a world of physical space and linear time, we shall never know.
David Leonhardt recently posted..Searching High and Low for a Deal
Good points, there, David…
Thanks for adding to this discussion. I appreciate your insights!
Roy
Now I know why you came into my life, Roy… you replaced my corporate friend who kept this Catholic-raised human informed on the finer points of your religion.
Love serving a purpose, PeggyLee!
Thanks for reading and commenting upon the blog.
Roy
I have just come from a meeting where I was rapped over the knuckles for being too lenient on marking assessments. It was a good reminder that yes you need to let them make their own mistakes but you also need to rap them over the knuckles so that they learn what is acceptable, workable, kind and workable. If we let others make mistakes without pulling them up to expectations and standards and the higher ideas then we create a world or environment of almost and let people get away with second class work
Roberta Budvietas recently posted..Stuck wanting connection
There’s a consequence for which I did not mention in the post! Thanks for adding that information, Roberta.
Your analogy is awesome Roy! Step back and let them work it out, work with them not for them. It is difficult at times, especially since we seem to always be in a hurry. Hurry up and learn this or that. Hurry up and get it or get out. Hurry, hurry … except if we slowed down, took some time and really helped instead of enable, we would make much more progress.
Lynn Brown recently posted..Is It Time to Take a Breather From Your Online Business
Not only progress, Lynn, but enhance their ability to discern situations, analyze choices, and grow from the experience.
Loved the hurry, hurry- since that is probably my normal “slow” speed. Thanks for the reminder to s l o w d o w n some more.
Roy
Roy, you must have been peeking into my life! This is something I strive to do daily. As much as I want to do everything for my sons, I know that’s not in their best interest and they want to do everything themselves anyway. In business, though, I have no problem letting go and letting the people I’ve hired to handle projects, take care of the projects on their own. Thanks for yet another good reminder…give people space.
Lisa Kanarek recently posted..Are You Controlling Time or is Time Controlling You?
So they can grow and learn for themselves- as you well know, Lisa.
Thanks for the visit- and the anecdote to make the point clear.
Roy
“We tend to do too much…which can prevent people from reaching their own pinnacles.” I have really struggled with this concept with my daughter. I have always tried to “fix” her problems…sometimes making them worse.
We will never know the true potential of a person if we make them dependent on us.
Very good post, Roy.
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Love it, Janette!!!!
And, we have all been guilty- the trick is to be guilty for a short time- and let them and us grow from it!
Roy