tragedy and response
Summer seems to be this odd stretch of time where we utilize the little time between the 3 weeks and Ellul to let loose and enjoy ourselves all the while accepting the inescapable string of tragedies that inevitably accompany this rumpsringa of sorts.
There have been so many tragedies this summer but there was one in particular that really struck me raw.
The horrific van/train collision in Israel which left an entire family dead is just beyond comprehension.
Imagine for a moment all the time and effort that it takes to build a family. All the moments, the joys of childbirth, the trials and successes and the countless simchas. How it could all be eliminated in 1 second forces one to think. To think deep long and hard.
What does it all mean?
But even more disturbing is the typical frum response to stories like this.
Sites like vosizneias and others have given us the opportunity to glimpse inside the mind of the anonymous frum population and it aint' pretty.
Typical response number 1: Oy!
Typical response number 2: Oy we need Moshiach already.
As if Moshiach is some kind of Superman like hero that we need to rescue us when we're in trouble..(assuming they don't mean the tzaar hashechina).
Typical response number 3: Oy Hashem is sending us a message...Yidden..no more ____________ (insert pet peeve here...)..which typically elicits responses that belittle the original pet peeve.
The truth is...no one needs to be "sending us" any messages, and I would feel terribly guilty knowing that a family of 7 was wiped just to send me a message.
The message is in the occurrence itself. All one needs to do is sit and meditate for 10 minutes on the fragility of life and make personal adjustments accordingly.
Instead of turning outside ourselves for an action hero to come swoop us to eternal bliss, we should take control of what we do truly control, our minds and souls and find some measure of personal redemption.
.
There have been so many tragedies this summer but there was one in particular that really struck me raw.
The horrific van/train collision in Israel which left an entire family dead is just beyond comprehension.
Imagine for a moment all the time and effort that it takes to build a family. All the moments, the joys of childbirth, the trials and successes and the countless simchas. How it could all be eliminated in 1 second forces one to think. To think deep long and hard.
What does it all mean?
But even more disturbing is the typical frum response to stories like this.
Sites like vosizneias and others have given us the opportunity to glimpse inside the mind of the anonymous frum population and it aint' pretty.
Typical response number 1: Oy!
Typical response number 2: Oy we need Moshiach already.
As if Moshiach is some kind of Superman like hero that we need to rescue us when we're in trouble..(assuming they don't mean the tzaar hashechina).
Typical response number 3: Oy Hashem is sending us a message...Yidden..no more ____________ (insert pet peeve here...)..which typically elicits responses that belittle the original pet peeve.
The truth is...no one needs to be "sending us" any messages, and I would feel terribly guilty knowing that a family of 7 was wiped just to send me a message.
The message is in the occurrence itself. All one needs to do is sit and meditate for 10 minutes on the fragility of life and make personal adjustments accordingly.
Instead of turning outside ourselves for an action hero to come swoop us to eternal bliss, we should take control of what we do truly control, our minds and souls and find some measure of personal redemption.
.
Labels: B
posted by David_on_the_Lake at 12:30 PM
2 Comments:
well said.
I have a hard time with this on both ends: coming to terms with the number of tragedies that have been occurring as of late, and of the general response to them.
We don't know why these things happen; we don't have prophecy to tell us what we should change and why it's happening and it scares me, because will this keep up? If we don't get the message (what message?) how can this stop?
And another question in my mind is whether this really is happening with increasing frequency or it's just because of our access to instant world news that we actually hear about every calamity that occurs?
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