It Ain't Easy - Bechukotai

The baseball season is well under way and the basketball playoffs are heating up. When we watch these professional athletes play it seems so easy to hit the ball, make a running catch, strikeout a home run king, dribble with both hands and sink a reverse layup. But hours upon hours of work go into perfecting their moves. They watch videos, train with coaches and then exercise and practice some more.

The same thing goes for success in growth, self-development and Torah values. In this week's parsha, Behar-Bechukotai, the Torah explains how we are to approach our Torah observance. "If in my laws you will walk and my commandments you will watch and do them."1 Rashi, the great medieval commentator explains that half of the sentence seems superfluous as the command to follow the mitzvot is mentioned in the first part and again in the second half. Assuming the Torah does not use words needlessly, Rashi explains that the first half of the sentence then is referring to an attitude we need to take - to immerse ourselves in it, to occupy ourselves with it, to exert ourselves for it. Only then can we ensure success and the ensuing blessings.

So, too, with personal development. I often hear people say, "oh, I went to that workshop but nothing changed." When I ask them if they implemented any of the recommendations made at the workshop they shrug and offer some excuse for not trying anything that was suggested. Some people actually do try once or twice but do not continue. Of course there was no change. There was no follow up and little if any effort made. I imagine it's no accident that Byron Katie called her method of self-improvement "The Work".2 We need to work in order to succeed. It doesn't happen by itself.

The great sage, the Chasam Sofer adds in his explanation of the above passage that by exerting ourselves we find new and exciting ways to understand the Torah. It becomes fun - but only if we exercise that muscle. We want it to be fun. We want to feel a daily renewal. And when we reach a milestone it is great! It's uplifting. And it must inevitably lead to another and another. We do not rest on our laurels.3 We practice and make a daily effort for that to happen. It does not happen by itself.

And, yes, the same is true with self-improvement.

It ain't easy…but it's definitely worth it.

 Notes

  1. Vayikra 26:3
  2. http://thework.com/
  3. Viktor Frankl's logotherapy teaches us that healthy living includes constantly searching for meaning and trying to improve.

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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