Rythm of the Universe

I like to believe that there is a song to the universe. That beyond the daily hustle & bustle, there is a tune to which life is playing, & that our task is to learn the rhythm of the Divine plan & fall into step with it.

You can see when someone is in sync with the song. You can see it on their face, in their eyes, the way they talk, the way they lead their life. These individuals have the strongest faith; they do not live in doubt, they have nothing to fear. They radiate joy; they are happy people.

I have learned that in order to fully connect to a melody, you must be able to let go of yourself. When you are preoccupied with details, you cannot truly listen, & when you are afraid to lose control, you cannot truly sing. A genuine artist can deliver sincerely because he knows how to lose his inhibitions. In turn, the music becomes his refuge, enabling him to leave life's worries behind & be absorbed in a world beyond the physical.

The same is true for the song of the universe. When G d composed it, He promised that it would protect us. He promised us that if we walked with Him we would be blessed to see the good in a world that may be fraught with pain. But in order to hear the Divine song, we must know how to put ourselves aside. When we can honestly surrender to G d, we are no longer bogged down by life's obstacles; it is then that we become a vessel for His infinite blessing.

There is a well known Chassidic story of Reb Shmelke of Nikolsburg who approached Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch (known as the "Maggid") with the following question:
How can the Talmud tell us that an individual must bless G d for the bad with the same joy as one would bless G d for the good? How is this humanly possible?

In response, the Maggid sent Reb Shmelke to the great Chassidic master, Reb Zushe of Anipoli, who suffered terrible hardship in his life.
Reb Shmelke repeated his question, to which Reb Zusha responded:
"You raise a good point, but why did our Rebbe send you to me? How would I know? He should have sent you to someone who has experienced suffering."
Indeed, Reb Zushe could hear the song. In a life filled with difficulties, he only knew goodness because he had sensitized himself to the Divine composition of the world & was wholly in tune with the Creator.

But, one may ask, how many can aspire to the spiritual heights of Reb Zushe?
However, it is clear that the Maggid did not send Reb Shmelke to Reb Zushe to simply highlight Reb Zushe's piety. For the Talmud's directive - that one must bless G d for the bad with the same joy as one would bless G d for the good - is towards every individual, not only the tzaddik.

The Maggid was showing Reb Shmelke & each & every one of us in turn, that what the Talmud mandated was humanly possible; that learning the Divine song of the universe was truly achievable.

Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from the philosophy behind the Suzuki Method of music education: that every child can make great strides in music regardless of the talent he or she initially displays. Japanese violinist Dr. Shinichi Suzuki believed that the difference between the prodigy child & the average child was simply a matter of time. With this empowering message he inspired hundreds of seemingly ungifted children to grow, to listen, & to ultimately unleash the potential they possessed.

Indeed, we can all get there. True, no two souls are alike, & when we embarked on the journey from above to below, each soul was affected by the descent in its own way. Some of us passed through the ethereal worlds with nary a scar; some of us arrived less spiritually aware. Yes, some of us are naturally more in tune with the Divine song, but we can all learn it. It is simply a matter of time.
Granted, it is a challenging experience, filled with frustrations & epiphanies, sorrows & joys, but it is a fascinating experience all the same. For it seems that every happening in an individual's life serves to unravel another part of G d's composition. I imagine that with each test G d is saying, "Here is one more piece of My song."

Every hurdle that we rise above is one more chord that we master; each moment that we believe is another note learned; & every recognition of G d in an exiled world means that we have discerned another nuance in the Divine symphony. As we journey through life we build, verse upon verse, until we reach the crescendo of an unbreakable bond with our Creator.

I used to sit behind her in the synagogue, my grandmother. Her face was weathered, her body frail, her legs could barely support her tiny frame.
During the services, there were moments when she wanted to cry. When they opened the ark & took out the Torah scrolls, everything became a blur & she was a young child again, in the synagogue in Germany. When the cantor sang the "Shema Yisrael", she heard the cries of her family as they were dragged to the gas chambers in Auschwitz, the words of "Shema Yisrael" on their lips.

But she did not cry. She stood up with the rest of the congregants as the Torah is raised, steadying herself by holding onto the table in front of her. She closed her eyes, thanking G d for her life, grateful for the opportunity to praise Him. (She often reminded us to be grateful to be part of His Kingdom)
I watched her, in awe, so many times. How strong & brave is the Jewish spirit! How valiant she was; she had witnessed what should have torn her down, & yet she continued to struggle to survive.

I lower my eyes when I think of those days, my grandmother & her stories. I am humbled. Master of the Universe, You have created the human with a mind that is sharp, & a heart that is gentle; but You have placed this being in a world of harsh dichotomies; a world of experiences that cannot be reconciled by human intelligence & emotion. The sharp mind cannot comprehend; the sensitive heart is easily broken. We ought not to withstand the journey of life, but we persist. We want to learn Your song.

I believe that when you listen to the music in your soul, when you walk in tune to the melody of your spirit, it is then that your life becomes like a dance; one single flow of energy, rising & falling to the rhythm of your destiny.
I'm still learning the song; it is a lifelong journey. But with every step I take, I look towards those who are already dancing to it.

G-d Bless.

J