Destruction and Hope
3 weeks
They say that timing is everything.
What if you only had three weeks to act?
Only three weeks to accomplish something big. To grieve and rebuild. And celebrate the new.
But what if you were not sure if three weeks was enough.
Right now, on the ancient Hebrew calendar, there is a three week period marking extreme brokenness, broken walls, broken families, broken nations. Historically and today, some people feel unsafe and there is tremendous violation of others’ bodies and property. Typically, when humans feel unsafe, angst emerges. And naturally so.
To people who do not really know what is going on in your life or for those who sit in the peanut gallery, it may feel like you are being judged. Perhaps people just do not understand that your disgruntled feelings come from a deep hunger for justice. This is the case with the biblical story of Pinhas. He seemed to be a zealot, yet his passion grew from his drive for morality.
Pinhas in the bible was a man who noticed that other adults around him were acting unethically, and he called it out. He pointed to the destructive behaviors and the irrational. Pinhas was rewarded for his fierceness. Why? Because his passion and his yearning for peace were combined, and directed towards a higher way of being. When you go beyond your own instincts for the sake of greater good, this is an act of strength (R’ M. Schneerson).
My father’s name was Pinhas. At one time, he was a professional athlete and taught me a lot about sports. He used to say to me on the soccer field, “It’s not enough to kick well with your right foot. You need to practice with your left as well. There will be times when you need your whole body in the game.” I never thought I would quote my father and the Lubavitcher Rebbe together, but their sentiments seem similar. Sometimes you have to go beyond what is normal and integrate the unusual. Even if it feels uncomfortable, the act of acknowledging the irregularity allows you to expand. People tend to want things to fit into a box with a nice pink bow, but life doesn’t work that way.
Right now in the world, we are witnessing extreme destruction and extreme hope. The paradox is present. When brokenness becomes pervasive, people seek shelter, food, and comfort. And ultimately, the lucky ones will get a chance to rebuild. After the storms, the wind will brush softly upon your cheek and remind you to strengthen your body, mind, and spirit.
Between now and then, you may cope via relationships, art, nature, deep canvassing, and more. Many things may inspire. What you do is less important. It matters more that when your inner voice asks: Can you be whole again after being broken? Can you love again? That your answer is Yes and Yes. The default setting is love.
