From December 1, 2011 Bluffton Sun.___Shalom and peace. I again invite you to learn about how the Talmud of Judaism teaches us to live.
'' If you have done much good to someone, consider it as you have done very little. If someone has done you a bit of good, consider it as if he has done you much good. If you have done any wrong to someone, even a little bit, consider it as if it is much wrong. If others have done much wrong to you, consider it as nothing.'' (Derek Eretz 3:9)
My rabbinic teacher asked: "Would you rather be happy or would you rather be right?'' He was not talking about major situations when ''we cannot stand idly by while our fellows' blood is being shed.'' He was discussing the daily interactions that we have with our fellows, including coworkers, family, et.al.
Our sages nor God wish us treated as door mats. But neither are we to be full of angst and peccadilloes.
'' If you have done much good to someone, consider it as you have done very little.''
Why are we here on earth? From a Jewish spiritual point of view, we are here to be of maximum service to God and our fellows. When doing good for someone, or some institution, even if it is 'much' good, we have to consider it as if we have done little. Further, everything we have is not just a gift from God, but a loan.
''If someone has done you a bit of good, consider it as if he has done you much good.'' Think of all of the little things that are done for us each day with the same gratitude we would give for the occasional big thing done for us.
We realize all the things we take for granted that other humans do for us, and that God does for us. When we do not acknowledge such wonders we become ingrates. Instead of seeing a flat tire as an inconvenience, one thing wrong out of 999 things that went right, we awfulize it, and loose our shalom.
''If you have done any wrong to someone, even a little bit, consider it as if it is much wrong.'' It is very easy to hurt another's feelings. Even doing acts with good intentions can bring harm. Be kind and make amends.
''If others have done to you much wrong, consider it in your eyes as nothing.'' This isn't easy. It goes against our so-called human nature. Our job spiritually is to grow from Homo Sapien, with this 'human nature,' to Homo Spiritus. We check our egos.
We let childlike mean behaviors flow off our backs. Because we are trying to live a spiritual life doesn't mean everyone will treat us respectfully. Because one is a vegetarian doesn't mean the bull won't charge. We shed our Velcro skins and grow skins of Teflon. Our lives go smoother. We live in freedom, with happiness and joyousness each day.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Follow him on FaceBook at 'Arthur L Segal', on Twitter at RabbiASegal, or his blog at http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com . Email at RabbiSegal@JewishSpiritualRenewal.net
Rabbi Arthur Segal www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org
Jewish Renewal www.jewishrenewal.info
Jewish Spiritual Renewal http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA
