Your flight crew has asked the passengers to buckle their seatbelts. Airspeed has been reduced, and your flight begins its steady descent for landing.
From your window, you have a bird's eye view of people on the ground, going through their daily lives. You can see slow-motion Matchbox cars bringing people to their respective destinations.
You have a perceptual advantage over the people you're observing: On the ground, they can’t see how they fit into the picturesque countryside or the busy city. They can’t see the traffic miles ahead, nor what’s going on at the location they left two minutes ago.
Two vastly different perspectives:
The aerial view allows one to see a large swath in its entirety and within its landscape. You don't lose the forest for the trees.
The ground view gives you details that are critically necessary; yet these life-sized minutiae often fill your entire visual field, eclipsing the wide-angle perspective and its benefits.
We need both perspectives for purposeful living.
Imagine an aerial view of your life. What would happen if you stepped away from your immediate struggles - the ones so close to your face that they block out the light - to panoramically observe where you're coming from and where you're going? What if there were a transcendent perch from which you could 'modify your travel plans' and get you to your 'destination' more effectively? What if you could see your life – the ups and the downs - through a wide-angle lens, a context which could soften the pain of your immediate struggles?
Scripture tells us that Jacob had a dream in which he saw angels climbing up and down a ladder; the ladder had its feet firmly planted on the ground, while its top reached into the heavens.
The Kabbalists taught that this ladder, a bridge between heaven and earth, represents prayer. Prayer is the process of climbing higher and deeper within ourselves; it's scaling your psyche to find the holiest and G-dliest - unscathed by the world - place within yourself. Prayer is ascending Jacob's Ladder to find clearer perspective of my personal potential, my life on the ground, and where I can make some helpful changes.
Take some time to focus and go on up; you can see a beautiful life from up there.
ב"ה
Raquel Watson wrote...
Sometimes when I walk, I would close the lids of my eyes so that I could only see the very next step I had to take, sort of like walking blind. I would not be distracted by or impatient with how far I had to go. When I opened my eyes, before I knew it I had reached my destination. Looking back I would be amazed by how far I had journeyed. It may have looked weird to passersby, but for me it was an excellent way of training my brain to remain in the present, the actual if you will, but I was inspired to keep going by the potential of reaching my destination.
Today I learned about the controversy between the actual and the potential. Both perspectives have merit, especially when it comes to teaching children. For example, do you only rely on step by step instructions without giving the student a goal? Children have unique learning abilities. Often times, if the student does not know their goal they are likely to become impatient with tasks. However, if the student only cares about the end result, then they may miss all the wonderful benefits of completing small but important tasks and moreover may be likely to make missteps on the way. The end justifying the means and all of that. If you only give the student the big picture then they may not be inclined to pay attention to the details. And the devil is in the details. The actual and the potential must balance each other.
I also learned today that we should teach children to respond because a child's answer creates for them a place in world. A small child's knowledge of the world is basic, ground level if you will but their potential reaches to the heavens.
Excellent!
I also wanted to say that I appreciate you entertaining my questions and discussions at the Chabad. While I am not Jewish and do not know all the rules of addressing the Rabbis, I in no way intend on disrespecting you or the Jewish people. I am simply fascinated by the practical knowledge that can be gained by reading books like the Torah and the Siddur. While these books are based in religion, the wisdom in these books speaks to the human condition, regardless of religious affiliation. It is my sincere hope that my presence does not disturb you. I hope you understand my zeal for learning and do not take it as an insolent challenge. While I study at home, I gain so much more insight by viewing my independent study through the wider angled lens of the Rabbi. I don’t know how else to learn and gain a deeper understanding but by asking questions. If I just assume I know what I do not know then I would be doing myself an injustice.
Thank you.
Ciao~
Raquel wrote...