A thought for the week

We can learn so much from a careful look at how great people live their lives. I don't mean their marquee achievements; I mean life as a whole. 
For example, we study about our matriarch Sarah, and her groundbreaking work in spreading monotheism. But there are nuances in her life, in her attitudes, which can lend profound lessons to me and you, for the here and now.
This coming Shabbat, we'll open the Torah reading with the fact that Sarah passed away: "And Sarah's lifetime was one hundred years...."
From the way that the language is framed, our Sages derive that Sarah didn't only live out her days, she ENLIVENED them. 
What does that mean?

People of character and vision don't just biologically function through a given day; they breathe vitality and substance into each and every day. 
When I get up in the morning, I have the opportunity to proactively grab my day and guide it in a meaningful direction. No matter what I do for a living, I can find meaning in the things that I do and the results I accomplish (starting from the meaningful objective of supporting my family and community). 
I'm not trapped in an impervious flow of time. I can impact my time, making it special, steering it toward a purposeful existence. 
Shabbat is very helpful in this effort. In many respects, Shabbat is a spa for the soul. It's a time to stand back and soak in who I am, and why I do what I do. With proper perspective, I can better guide my life toward an objective. I can bring meaningful closure to the previous week's events; I can also gather the inspiration I'll need to infuse soul into my upcoming week. 
Even during the week, I have times for prayer, which are like 'mini-Shabbats'. When I pray, I search myself and my particular situation to find a substantive purpose. Once I have my bearings, I am better equipped to be the sparkplug of my day.
G-d gives us life, but it's up to us to truly LIVE it.

Shabbat Shalom