One of the biggest challenges in finding a true balance in life is how much our profession becomes our defining character trait. Most of us tend to introduce ourselves by our profession because it is something concrete to hang our hat on. Yet, the professional we are is not who we are.
Over the course of the past few weeks, the Torah cycle has arrived at the building of the Tabernacle in the desert. In a few places throughout this latter part of Exodus, Gd warns the people that while building the Tabernacle is of much value, the people must be careful to not work on it on Shabbat. R. Eliezer Melamed in the introduction to his work on the Laws of Shabbat vol. 1, expresses an idea about this connection which I feel speaks to the challenge of getting to who we really are:
One might have thought that only secular activities would be prohibited on Shabbat, but actually the Torah prohibits any type of activity necessary for the construction of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle erected by the Israelites in the desert). Moreover, the 39 melakhot (types of labor forbidden on Shabbat) are derived from the work done for the Mishkan, and all forms of labor that were involved in assembling the Mishkan are prohibited on Shabbat. Thus, juxtaposed to the descriptions of the work done in the Mishkan we read, ‘Nevertheless, you must keep My Shabbatot (Shemot 31:13), which teaches us that although erecting the Mishkan is a great mitzva, one must desist even from on Shabbat. For even crafting the Mishkan needs to be connected to its inner divine essence. If this were not the case, all the difficulties in putting up the Mishkan would be left like a body without a soul, unable to fulfill its purpose of revealing the word of Gd to the world. Sometimes it is specifically those whose work is linked to the holy who need to be particularly careful about this, because due to their awareness of the value of the holy they are likely to invest their all in building a framework for it, to the point that forget its inner essence.
Laws of Shabbat vol. 1 p 14-15
Shabbat is a day of rest from those things which distract us from getting to our core, our essence. It is the day that allows us to “check” on our foundation, making sure what is truly holding us up is not just “smoke and mirrors.”
We are always striving to achieve but are those achievements built on a strong or a weak foundation. As each of us looks to new opportunities, new beginnings, are we being careful to reinforce those parts of us with which we are traveling forward on this journey in life? Are we uncovering the inner essence of what makes each of us special, unique, or are we just making the framework look more beautiful?
May each of us find the beauty in Shabbat and find the spark that helps to reinforce our inner essence.
If you or someone you know is struggling to see your inner essence as part of your spiritual journey, contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or email newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com.
New beginnings: A blog about spirituality, chaplaincy and renewal 