What does a Divine, Infinite Being do on a regular Thursday afternoon? If One has everything, literally, wouldn’t life be boring? What aspirations, ambitions or feelings of satisfaction or attainment could there possibly be?
G-d creates us with the hope that we each choose (at least occasionally?) to peer beyond the haze of stress and the gleam of desire, to acknowledge that we’re created to live a life of meaning. He wonders, “Will they or won’t they remember Me?”
So G-d must be happy when we start the day with prayer, with introspective thoughts of how we need to align our day with a meaning-centered life. And G-d must be satisfied when we take some time at night to revisit the day’s choices and whether they reflect a purpose-driven life.
At the same time, morning, before the day begins and nighttime, after the day has wound down, are relatively easier times to be conscious and thoughtful. How about taking time in middle of the day? Can you imagine making time for G-d between Zoom meetings, as your mind is racing to keep all the balls in the air? Is that even realistic?
Jewish tradition says it is.
If we find G-d-consciousness when it isn’t easy, we give G-d His greatest ‘thrill.’
In fact, the Talmud teaches that our afternoon service (known as Mincha) has unique value. In the middle of our afternoon, it takes more proactive effort to focus on G-d and on our purpose in life. And that makes it all the more beautiful.
This idea gives us insight into a cryptic Talmudic teaching. The Talmud – which is primarily an exposition of Jewish Law, but also an exploration of spiritual and ethical ideas, often through cryptic stories and metaphors - asks the question:
What does G-d do all day? As part of the Talmud’s metaphoric answer, it says, “in the last three hours of the afternoon, G-d frolics with the Leviathan.”
Huh?
Chassidic thought points out that the [root of the] Hebrew word for Leviathan means connectedness; ‘Leviathan’ thus represents the awesome beauty that human beings create when they rise above their egos to find connectedness with something Higher ‑‑ the Divine.
So every afternoon, as millions of people choose to put their respective days on pause, to contemplate their priorities and behaviors and connect with the Divine, G-d ‘frolics.’
Think about the metaphoric word that the Talmud chooses.
It’s not just a smile.
Not just happy.
Frolicking.
Exuberant.
Sounds like a good time to pray.