Distractions

Hashem sends us messages through the most unlikely channels. Sometimes in the very place where you turn to run away from him you find him in the most intense form...

I once heard an eye opening thought from my Mashgiach Zt'l that was a little difficult for me to hear and fully comprehend until I chanced upon an old Jewish joke that was just a perfect parable to the above mentioned idea.

I'll start with the joke.

There was once a city bus driver named Herman who was given a route up 2nd Ave to drive every morning. It was a quiet yet integral route in the vast bus route network. At the end of the day Herman would come back to the depot with about $150.

One day at 6:00PM Herman came striding into the bus depot with a huge grin on his face. He made his way to his bosses office and desk and placed $565 down and sat down across from his bosses puzzled expression.
"What's this Herman?"
"Boss I found a route...down 5th ave..I'm telling you..it's a goldmine!"

That's the joke.

Hermans folly is clear. He doesn't see the big picture..and while he certainly meant well..if he were to continue that 5th ave route he would most definitely be fired..no matter how much money he brings in. That's because the 5th ave route is not HIS route. He's not doing anyone a favor by going down 5th ave.

The lesson is that every person has one primary goal and assignment to accomplish and deep down everyone knows what that is. It is the one thing that the Yetzer Horah really puts his energy into.
For every person it's different.
But we try to avoid this by focusing on other things..thinking that somehow davening better, or giving alot of tzedakah etc..will help distract us from our true monumental task
We think that somehow we can come into Hashems office at the end of the day and place a wad of cash and he'll forget about our true job.


May Hashem give us strength to face and rise up to our true challenges.

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