When God brought the flood onto the Earth, Noah and his family were the only human inhabitants whom God had spared. After being at sea for several months, Noah needed to know whether or not the flood had ended and if he would be able to return to dry land. In order to find out, Noah set free a dove from the Ark...
"...to see whether the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove could not find a resting place for the sole of its foot, and it returned to him to the Ark, for the water was upon the surface of all the earth. So he put forth his hand, and took it, and brought it to him to the Ark." (Genesis 8:8-9)
A LIFE LESSON
Noah and his family were out at sea for many months and were certainly eager to return to dry land. Clearly, when Noah sent out the dove on its mission, he was certainly hopeful that the dove would not come back to the ark - signaling an "all clear" for Noah and his family to return.
But when the dove did in fact come back to the Ark, Noah wasn't angry at the dove. Nor did he express to the dove his obvious disappointment at not being able to return to dry land. Nor did he yell at the messenger about his frustration at not even knowing when he and his family would be able to return. Noah did none of this. Rather, when Noah saw the dove on its way back to the ark, he simply "put forth his hand, and took it, and brought it to him to the ark."
Innocent messengers are constantly delivering news of one sort or another to us. Unfortunately, we almost always show some sort of verbal or nonverbal frustration toward anyone who delivers unwelcome news. Even though the messenger isn't the cause of the news he's delivering, he's nonetheless treated as though he is.
But Noah went even beyond just fighting his temptation of not expressing his obvious disappointment to the dove. He went to the other end of human expression and actually embraced the messenger when he gently put forth his hand, and took it, and brought it to him to the ark.
Noah's actions made the messenger only too willing to repeat its mission a week later and this time the dove delivered great news. Whenever anyone gives you unpleasant news, fight the urge to get upset with the person and make him feel bad. Even try to show him some sort of appreciation. Doing this will make an enormous difference in your personal interactions since people will start seeing you as someone who's consistently approachable, receptive, and caring. And this will lead people to actually seek you out and be eager to share with you the most wonderful and pleasant news.
(15) Anonymous, October 13, 2015 11:59 AM
Great article! Thanks for posting!
(14) Anonymous, October 19, 2014 2:05 PM
Great!
This is great! Thank you so much for posting it!
(13) jane, September 29, 2013 8:20 PM
great
Thank you for your wisdom.
(12) Don R., October 27, 2011 1:51 PM
Thanks!
Thanks for a most delightful and informative message. God bless you!
(11) Anonymous, October 24, 2011 9:41 PM
but the newscasters GENERALLY who deliver bad news are not to berespected because they feed on peple's fears and uncertainties...
(10) Anonymous, November 1, 2008 8:26 PM
All Messangers are from G-d and must be wecomed as such.
This passage and all the explanations given are very encouraging. The idea of welcoming a messenger even when he or she comes with bad news has deep spiritual implications as well. This saying extends even to notably negative situations that may befall us. The negative things that happen to us are some times (if not all the times) the unseen messenger delivering it back to us in our own coin. Kabala teaches that we are responsible for all that befalls us (the law of cause and effect). Therefore, there is no need to get angry or depressed or point accusing fingers at every one else except us. Such difficult times or situations in our lives may be signaling a need in our lives. It could be signaling a kind of detachment or distancing of our selves from Hashem or even the absence of His presence with us. Therefore it is important to always remember that negative situations we may be facing are simply messengers and the need for sober reflection on our ways. They are a call for a sober reflection on our interpersonal relationships with our friends and enemies (if you have any). They are a call for us to take a closer look at our walk with Hashem. Applying this principal of seeing every negative situation as a messenger from Hashem has personally helped me to remain calm and confident even in the face of worst situations, thereby placing me in a better state to handle the situation Hashem’s way. Shalom.
Anonymous, October 23, 2014 3:03 PM
BUT There for the grace of God go I!!! My God is a loving God BUT Just!
I disagree -are we not our brother's keeper - we should try to always treat others as we would want to be treated. your thought process encourages evil to prevail - and further more to accept it as something unkind - desired ? Really - sounds like thats a good way for those that do wrong a free pass out of being responsible for questionable behavior. Bullying is so often directed at a person - good of heart & usually a person having many redeeming qualities - jealousy is often the real key behind the bully's discusting behavior - their an easier target for the aggressor. Less likely to fight back. That's wrong on so many levels & for those finding an escape to being responsible for their negative behavior is like pull your head out of the sand dune & let's call it what it is - WRONG!!! On all levels. Sounds like someone looking for a free pass to treat other deplorable & then say well they must have had it coming. Get real. I do NOT agree but truly understand your thought process - because I've dealt with more than my share of bullies - they hide behind thought processes like you mention. I don't buy it & I truly doubt God does either. To the Bullies of the world - you will get yours in the after-life. Pack for HOT weather!!!!
(9) Joseph G., October 30, 2008 8:13 AM
Tele-marketers
What caught my eye was this comment in your teaching -- "Innocent messengers are constantly delivering news of one sort or another to us. Unfortunately, we almost always show some sort of verbal or nonverbal frustration toward anyone who delivers unwelcome news." I tend to be rude to tele-marketers, but this article makes me re-think my attitude...Afterall, they are only doing their job.
yona dalit, October 24, 2011 1:22 PM
telemarketers are salesmen
I have been a telemarketer (twice) because at the time it was the only job that I could get to the best of my knowledge. When you call a person, univited, it is the same as knocking on their door, univited. And just like a door to door salesman, you are taught and encouraged to knock loudly and repeatedly and to stick your foot in the door further and further until you get them to agree to buy what you are selling. Many choose to do this with no compunction or out of desperation to get sales so they can keep their job. I did the best I could to be as cordial, polite and honest as I could given the limitations of automatic redial and the script. In both cases when I found out that people were being hounded and what I was being told was the deal being offered wasn't quite what was in the script, I left the position to find other work. I now pray that all people that would choose to be employed in an honorable livelihood are blessed by G-d with sufficient income from such employment.
(8) ata, October 27, 2008 2:32 PM
really wonderful
i really enjoyed this article. it made me think. i've really never thought of it like that. i usually blow up at people who give me bad news. this article has given me something to work on and think about. thanks!!
(7) ElsaGerber, October 22, 2006 9:05 AM
It will be nice to receive news from you.
a wonderful smile is an universal language.....so smile!!!!
(6) Yerachmiel Milstein, November 7, 2005 12:00 AM
Beautiful Insight
What a great thought! Keep the pearls coming.
(5) Manuel, November 6, 2005 12:00 AM
Comment
If the food tastes bad, blame the cook, not the waiter
(4) Trudy Oppenheim, November 5, 2005 12:00 AM
A truism is a truism = but it's still true!,
(3) Chana Leah, November 4, 2005 12:00 AM
nice new feature
I like this new feature of Aish, A Lesson in Life. I try to bring some simple, quick divrei Torah to our Shabbat Table...it's got to be fast, or my kids won't participate, and I'm on my own, so I need to do this alone.
But the sort of divrei torah contained in A Lesson for Life is just what I need -- I can say it quickly, it brings a Torah lesson to real life, and I am able to enrich the Shabbat Table to something beyond what's served.
(2) moishe Katz, November 2, 2005 12:00 AM
great article
Great job.Keep up the good work.
(1) Manuel, October 31, 2005 12:00 AM
Makes me recall a remark
In a restaurant, when the food tastes bad do not blame the waiter but the cook