Someone Else's Words

There are a number of e-lists I'm on. More often than not, I 'save' a mail for later until finally, my inbox well over a hundred or so unread "mass" mails, I begin deleting them. But today, Sam is sleeping in, cuddled into the nooks of Amol's shoulder and elbow. I have some much-appreciated me-time to spend on some of these devotionals that I usually miss. I went ahead and opened a couple, and oh, what a reward. I have to restrain myself from forwarding too many to friends that I think would enjoy this or that. But this one I just had to post here. It's simply too timely considering some discussions I'm having with members of my church family. It's also a fabulous and beautiful reminder to consider as I run between bottle feeding goats, watering seedlings, bonding with chicks, and keeping my family fed and feeling well-loved. This is just an excerpt - for the full, not-too-long article, go here.

Instead of customers or corporate shares, I manage holiness opportunities (hopefully).

When I get too entrenched in overdrive mode, I think of two special words. Basi L’Gani. “I came into My garden,” G‑d relates, when He describes His creation. Garden? Sounds lyrical. My pulse is already slowing as I imagine the fragrant lilacs.

These are the opening words of an important chassidic discourse, the last one delivered by the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. The Rebbe expounded on another chapter each year. What is their message? These great and holy giants tell us: mitzvot and holiness are of infinite importance, but don’t let them become a list to plow through. Go out in the yard. Enter the garden. Smell the roses. Yes, G‑d wants us to do mitzvot, lots of them, but He’s not a big accountant tallying them up in the sky for some shareholders’ meeting. He made this world because He really wants—a garden. A simple place of simply impractical beauty and pleasure. Why? Can you ask why about a rose? Dissect and analyze it and the mystery is gone. It is just one of those things of loveliness, even though the world could seemingly trudge on without it. He begs us to play with Him in His garden, help weed it, and make it lovelier yet.

From: Making My World a Garden