The Rod and the Staff

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches (Likutei Moharan I: 216) that God immediately calls out to a person who strays from the proper path, beckoning that individual to return. God summons each person in a tailor-made fashion and in accordance with that person’s needs. For some, God’s call may be a subtle hint and for others, a vocal reprimand. A "louder" call assumes the form of physical punishment; in the jargon of our sages (Midrash Mishli, 22), "A whisper suffices for the wise, but a fool needs flagellation."

 

Even extreme handicaps are for a person’s own good. God alone knows what a soul must correct, and thereby places each soul in a circumstance that is conducive for its necessary tikkun, or soul correction. As we are usually unaware of our needed tikkun, we sometimes make wrong choices or entertain useless aspirations; God helps us change our plans to prevent us from wasting our lives on folly and fantasy.

 

For example, let’s suppose that a person – left to his or her own will – would have aspired to be a professional dancer. But, as a dancer, that person can’t possibly achieve his or her required tikkun. As such, God causes that person to be born with polio. Yet, the polio doesn’t hamper that person from becoming an outstanding teacher or spiritual leader that inspires thousands of people (their real tikkun!).

 

God closes those doors that aren’t beneficial to our souls, yet opens the doors that lead to what’s best for each of us, to keep us on a focused and directed path in life. Without His Divine guidance, we’d be totally lost.

 

At this point, you may ask, "If everything is in God’s hands, then what’s my job on this earth?" Good question. Our task is to develop our spiritual antennae and to discern – by correctly processing God’s personal messages to us – what God wants from each of us. God constantly communicates with us via our environment, telling us where He desires to take us and to what objective.

 

Even though these "hints" – or heavenly messages – are frequently clothed in sorrow, hardship, and deprivation, they are actually the epitome of perfect loving-kindness. How?

 

Sorrow, hardship, and deprivation are perfect loving-kindness when they are the agents that bring about one’s tikkun – the correction and perfection of the soul, the greatest achievement on earth. When a person accepts life’s difficulties with emuna, faith – calmly and happily, knowing that God is doing everything to help him or her realize the loftiest of aspirations – that person becomes a candidate for eternal happiness and inner peace, in this world and in the next.

 

An athlete is prepared to undergo extreme hardship from a demanding coach; not only that, a good athlete usually loves and respects his or her coach. Why? The athlete knows the coach, and trusts that the coach wants to build him or her into a winner and champion. We should have the same knowledge of and trust in God.

 

Imagine that you’re driving a car and want to make a right turn, but God blocks the way; you decide to make a left turn, but God has set up an obstacle to block that way also. Without emuna, you’re subject to anger, frustration, and disappointment.

 

But, with emuna, a person believes that life’s stumbling blocks, barriers, and hindrances are agents of God’s Divine providence. One doesn’t sink to frustration, anger, and depression with the knowledge that life’s setbacks are milestones, guiding lights, and personal gifts from God.

 

Suppose that the ticket agent at the airport informs you that your flight has been overbooked, and that you must wait until the next flight. You ask, "Why me – can’t you bump one of the other three hundred people on the list?" The ticket agent doesn’t budge; he doesn’t bother listening to what you have to say. You react with anger; your heart beats faster, you clench your fists, and you feel the blood rushing to your cheeks. You feel stressed and bewildered. You don’t know whether to call your lawyer, bang on the counter, or create a scene.

 

Stop! Suppose the flight took off – without you – and developed engine trouble, crashing into the sea with no survivors. Would you still be angry that you missed the flight? Of course not! With hindsight, you’d understand that God did something that seemed harsh at the time, for your ultimate good – to save your life!

 

Emuna turns hindsight, as in the above example, into the foresighted knowledge that God is leading us on the very best path for each of us. A person with emuna therefore rolls with life’s punches, knowing that difficulties – even failure – are loving expressions of Divine providence to help us attain the perfection of our individual souls.

 

Without emuna, a person is doomed to a life of confusion, frustration, and stubborn mistakes that could have been avoided, had that person heeded God’s messages. With no emuna, a person stands little chance of attaining a soul correction and completing his or her designated mission in life.