Have you ever had a job that you loved and gave you meaning and purpose
How about a career that used your talents and was so exciting it gave you a thrill to get out of bed?
When the jobs you do are a daily grind; they don't use your talents or give you value and purpose, even if it's an "easy job", the Torah refers to them in this weeks torah portion as backbreaking labor.
The same is true about our G-d given powers, unique to our soul to fulfill our mission in this world. Using these powers simply for mundane purposes or to gain popularity, can lead to us feeling upset and, dare I say, miserable. It feels like backbreaking labor with no importance or intent.
We need to have our healthy physical needs fulfilled. However, infusing these mundane aspects of our life with spirituality and meaning, elevates them and adds value to them. Doing mitzvot and learning Torah accomplishes this on a regular basis, provides us with a focus, meaning and purpose to our lives.
By experiencing the physical within a G-dly spiritual framework, permeates it with meaning and purpose.
By connecting to G-d using our unique talents, makes them even more meaningful.
Have a meaningful Shabbos!
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
