Taking for Granted - Parshat Tzav
We all know that in times of trouble many people turn to God for help. They engage in prayer for the item or the change that they wish. "There are no atheists in a foxhole," the saying goes. But if his answers are fulfilled, what is his reaction? Does he then turn to God?
There is an old story about a man driving to a job interview but couldn’t find a parking spot. He drove around and around and still was unsuccessful and was already late for his appointment. He turned to God and said: "Listen, I know I haven't been so good but this interview means a lot to me and if you get me a parking spot, I promise to follow in Your ways from now on." Immediately, a spot opened up. The young man turned to God and said: "Thanks anyway - but I just found a spot by myself." He was not open to see the divine intervention.
So, this week's parsha, Tzav, offers an insight into this situation. Parshat Tzav discusses the commandment of bringing a thanksgiving offering, Karban Toda1. When we are in a dangerous situation and escape from it, we are naturally thankful to those responsible for helping/saving us. We want to say "thank you". Rabbi Naftali Reich discusses how we use that phrase(thank you) and the importance of giving gratitude in general and to God in particular and even how it impacts on us as well. "By saying “thank you,” we declare that we recognize what the other person has done for us, that we value it and that we do not take him for granted."2
Learning to give gratitude is important. In logotherapy a whole keynote session was devoted to this topic. In the relatively new field of Positive Psychology and in general practicing gratitude is becoming a popular theme. the concept of gratitude journals which i first heard of from Brian Johnson, where people write down 5 items during the course of a day for which they feel gratitude, is becoming more and more popular. If you’ve never tried it, I highly suggest it for a 30 day period and I would be happy for you to share your feedback.
Indeed, the psalmist often repeated the term for thanksgiving, even saying "it is good to thank God"3 - giving thanks because it is good to give thanks.5
The very action of saying thank you has a direct impact on us and leads to our appreciation of the little things that are all around us. A good friend. A sunset. A smell. An event. A fresh fruit. It allows us to realize our own incompleteness and lack of omnipotence (very different from impotence) and can be very humbling yet empowering at the same time. It creates a mindset of being present in the moment4. Nothing is taken for granted and we live with an attitude that was described by the late Rabbi Joseph Lookstein who said, "God owes me nothing". Everything we then receive is truly a gift.
Let us, then, be thankful for today.
Notes
1. Vayikra/Leviticus 7:12
2. http://torah.org/learning/legacy/5769/tzav.html
3. Psalms/Tehillim 92:2
4. A concept in logotherapy
5. Midrash Shochar Tov 118:3
Have A Great Shabbat!
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