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| Rosh Hashana is here - are you ready to wake up? |
Without reflection.
Without regret.
When we feel bored, we should go out and enjoy life, regardless of the consequences. After all, we're told, life's a game. Live for the thrill. Just do it.
Sadly, this is not the Jewish way. It isn't even a moral or responsible way of life. It is both dangerous for us, as well as destructive for all others around us. However, regardless of the immediate results of such a lifestyle, ultimately, such behavior will generate far reaching and painful outcomes down the line.
For anyone who has undergone surgery, you surely remember the fear and sense of anxiety that led up to it. When you came to the hospital for pre-op, the surgeon discussed the procedure, the possible dangers, the hopeful results and side affects. Nervous and scared, you were brought into the OR, and the staff prepared you for the surgery. The anesthesiologist walked in and introduced himself, and explained what he would do, and how the injection would put you into a deep sleep so that you would be at ease and wouldn't feel the pain.
A few short moments later, so it seemed, you woke up. You were no longer in the OR, rather in the recovery room. The surgeon was gone. The anesthesiologist was gone. Everyone was gone.
"Where am I?" you thought to yourself.
You then remembered that you underwent surgery - but you couldn't remember a thing. Everything that happened while you were "under" - not a single memory of it. One thing is for certain - the surgery was over. Yet, a while later, a heavy, shooting pain settled in. Engulfed in utter agony, you summoned the nurse.
"What is going on?" you cried. "I thought I had anesthesia so I woulnd't feel the pain?"
"True," the nurse patiently respondsed, "but that was for during the surgery. You are now experiencing pain because the anesthesia wore off. Since you are now awake, you will undoubtedly feel pain."
Let us not be fooled. If we choose to put ourselves to sleep and ignore the true meaning and purpose of life, we can enjoy all we want. While asleep, we will feel no pain. However, eventually, we are bound to wake up. And when we do, reality will settle in. The thrill will be gone. The fun we once experienced won't even be a lasting memory.
Done. Gone. Over.
The only thing that will remain will be the pain.
But we can avoid the pain. We can avoid the entire surgery if we choose. But we will need to remain healthy. To keep our souls healthy. And if we do, we won't have to sleep. We won't want to sleep. We will want to live life the way it was designed to be lived.
With meaning.
With purpose.
With true happiness.
With two days before Rosh Hashanah, let the sound of the shofar awaken those of us who are still sleeping. Let us awaken to a new year.
A new life.
A life of living, not sleeping.
A life, not a game.
Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, help me wake up - and stay up! I don't want to sleep through life anymore!"
