Take A Break Do Something Useful
Do you ever want to take a break from yourself? A break from thinking? A break from feeling? The more sensitive you are, the more in touch you are, the smarter you are, the greater the desire to take a break, the greater the need to still the mind.
Yoga, mindfulness meditation, and regular meditation are all helpful to this end. But imagine living the paradox where you feel and think and still experience peace of mind and heart.
Meditate on that for a bit :-)!
There is help, and it comes from an unlikely Biblical figure, Eliezer the servant of Abraham. In Chabad philosophy, Eliezer represents the ideal messenger, the messenger of Abraham. When identifying himself to the family of Rebeccas when seeking a wife for Isaac, he says eved Avrohom anochi I am a servant of Abraham. This is his identity. It is uncomplicated. It is pure, and it epitomizes the ideal of service.
When we are caught up in our own feelings and thoughts simply because they are ours, we will eventually be worn down unless one is a true clinical narcissist in which case there are bigger issues at play. The ego is never satisfied as long as we continue feeding it.
Eliezer identifies as a servant of Abraham. His whole identity is defined by service. The Torah tells us in great detail twice how Eliezer strategized to identify the right wife for Isaac. The Torah tells us at length twice what Eliezer felt during this episode. His thoughts and feelings were not about himself. They were about the mission. When we harness the ego in service of something greater, it becomes a powerful force that helps us achieve that goal. When we direct the ego toward service, our thoughts and feelings become liberating rather than exhausting.
Have you ever been involved in an event or activity in service of others that required tremendous effort on your part? Do you remember how, when the mission was accomplished or the event completed, you were physically exhausted and at the same time exhilarated? This is the experience of service as liberation.
This is what we, as Jews, have been called upon to do since the time of Abraham and Eliezer. Live our lives, live good lives materially and spiritually, but let all of it be in service of G d and humankind. It is a sure path to a liberating life.
Have a good Shabbos!
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