Emor(Leviticus 21-24)

Dealing With the Mundane

"The average person will spend 13-15 years of their life eating, another two years in the bathroom, four years commuting, and 26 years sleeping!"

Imagine if scientists invented a way to do life's chores in one long successive time span. Activities would be grouped together as opposed to the present "installment approach. "For instance, instead of eating a little bit each day, we could simply spend the next five years just gorging ourselves!

Exciting? No, depressing. How meaningless those days would be! Imagine four solid years just travelling back and forth to work without ever stopping, and two whole years of going to the bathroom!

But does life become any more meaningful when our quota of sleep is fulfilled in spans of eight hours as opposed to 26 years straight? Think about it: If life is filled with activities that - when grouped together become extremely meaningless - then life is surely no more meaningful just because those activities are in many short increments!

THE TOTAL IS NO MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

Granted, on a day-to-day basis, many of us don't feel life's banality. That is only because we break up the many meaningless activities into small segments. But no matter how hard we try, those segments add up to create the general texture of life.

Subconsciously we are always taking an inventory of our lives. We have a sense of our total losses and gains. If the majority of life is spent in the mundane and we do not make that mundane meaningful, then accordingly, we will feel that life lacks substantive meaning.

When God created human beings, He could have made it so that we'd spend little or no time sleeping or using the bathroom. But the reality is that we have to do a lot of mundane things! Clearly then, a meaningful life can only be had if we deal properly with the mundane - not run from it or avoid it. The solution is that the mundane needs to be made more meaningful.

THE BIG ISSUES

Ironically, the really key issues of life are therefore in the realm of the mundane. Even such "ultimate" issues as world peace, human rights, etc., must sometimes step aside for food, the bathroom, and sleep.

According to Judaism, every aspect of life has purpose. No part of life is irrelevant or "mundane." All of life is meaningful and therefore worthy of our attention.

This sometimes may seem petty in practice. For example, many feel that Kashrut (the Jewish dietary laws) as well as other similar details are inconsequential. But these details are in fact the keys to unlocking the meaning in the mundane.

The mundane is mundane, but it's not trivial.

THE CHALLENGE

Some human activities have more meaning than others. For example, a person is going to get more meaning out of teaching a child than painting the house.

However, this week's Parsha gives us the secret for taking the most insignificant activity and turn it into one of ultimate meaning. What is it? The Mitzvah to "sanctify the name of God" (Leviticus 22:32).

Every action we perform becomes an opportunity waiting to be made as meaningful as the effort the person is willing to put in. Every moment can therefore be transcendent.

THE MECHANICS OF THE CONCEPT

Judaism says that man was created for just one reason -pleasure. This is humanity's only real striving. It is at the root of all our energies. The more pleasure or meaning someone thinks he will get, the more effort he will exert.

Judaism says that the greatest pleasure is God. That's because the very essence of God is good. (In fact, the two words are etymologically identical.)

Everyone would be good if they thought it was pleasurable. Unfortunately, "being good" has bad PR! Many people see being good as boring or even painful. But each of us has the opportunity to add some positive PR to the other side of the ledger. If we do the right thing - and look like we're enjoying it - then others will want to emulate us.

Doing what is moral and enjoying it because it's the right thing, demonstrates to others where real meaning is to be found. And showing people "meaning" through your actions, is not only more effective than lecturing or writing about it, but it is also more meaningful to you - the instructor. It boosts that same activity to a far higher level and becomes a source of value and meaning for you the doer.

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

Let's take an example found in everyday life.

Today unfortunately, almost anything to do with the woman's role is demeaned. Not simply housework - but even raising children is belittled. It has an image of being dull and unimportant. Imagine, however, a woman who exudes fulfillment in this role. The impact on society would be tremendous!

Charity is another area that is often looked upon as a necessary evil. A person could have an everlasting effect on others if he were to view his gifts as pleasurable opportunities rather than burdens. Just imagine how much you could inspire others if you showed them by example the joy of giving!

Life needn't be mundane. People spend immense amounts of time looking for financial opportunities. Use that same drive to find meaningful opportunities in the mundane places of life. The payoff is of a considerably higher order.

BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Question 1: Why do you think so many people are unhappy?

Question 2: If you were to do all your daily activities in different rooms, which room would be the most meaningful? Which would be the most meaningless?

Question 3: A car is made to transport people. A telephone's purpose is for communication. If someone were to look at your life, what would they say is your purpose?

Question 4: What is the single most creative act a human being can perform?