FEATURE
The best thing
Grab it with both hands I BY RABBI LEVI AVTZON
WE ALL DESIRE JOY. WE ALL CRAVE HAPPINESS.
We imagine some joy genie showing up
one day and bestowing us with this feeling of freshness, fun and frolic which will
transform us into happy humans.
Hmmm… where will we find this genie?
Ah! Maybe if I get a new thing which I
crave, for example, a new stunning car, I’ll
meet the genie in the passenger seat as I
drive out of the dealership. Or how about
that new phone? Ya, maybe if I upgrade my
phone (which I got six months ago but
which is already considered dated) then I’ll
meet happiness-drug the moment I turn
on my flashy phone for the first time.
That didn’t work. Happiness doesn’t come
from things. So where does it come from?
How about a new friendship? Maybe
once I find a friend to share my highs and
1. We have a unique mission that we
were sent to this world to accomplish.
2. We can accomplish that mission.
+1 Now go accomplish that mission.
Some people don’t know they have a
mission. They don’t appreciate that they
are unique. They consider themselves dispensable to the mission of humanity.
POINT 1: You are indispensable
Some people know they are unique, but for
them it is theory and a bit ‘pop-psychologyish’ and ‘feel-good-airy-fairy-stuff ’. They
talk all about it and know it in their brain,
but they don’t believe it in their heart.
POINT 2: You can accomplish this mission.
It is not a theory – it’s true and the mission
of life itself.
Then there are the people who know in
their minds and hearts that they have a
JOY IS THE RESULT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WERE
GIVEN A UNIQUE MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS WORLD.
lows with then I’ll achieve happiness! Almost. It feels good to have healthy relationships, but it doesn’t bring the true joy of
life. So, if joy doesn’t come from things and
other people, where does it come from?
Ourselves!
Joy is not something you find or are
given. Joy is a decision you make. If you
choose to be joyous then you are joyous.
Joy doesn’t happen to you; rather, you
happen to it.
Joy is the result of understanding that
you were given a unique mission to accomplish in this world, feeling that you
can accomplish that mission, and when
you go accomplish it.
Let’s break down that paragraph into
baby bites, to fully understand this idea.
There are 2+1 ideas that are vital for
each of us to know about ourselves:
82 JEWISH LIFE
ISSUE 82
mission and are good enough to accomplish it. But when it comes to action they
don’t live up to the high ideals and feelings. They are challenged in translating
ideals into real-life tangible impact. They
love the feeling of being unique, but they
are wary of the responsibility that it
comes with it.
+1 Action is the most important. It all
boils down to action. We live in a world of
action, and ultimately that is what counts
the most. Theories and feelings are amazing only if combined with deed.
When you have this stunning combination of thought, feeling and action all
working harmoniously to light up the
world with your unique light, you have
then discovered your inner joy. How awesome it is to know that you are partnering with G-d Himself to transform darkness into light, jungle into garden, disharmony into harmony!
There is no greater joy in the world
than knowing that we are playing our
part in the role of mankind, to make the
world a place of goodness, kindness and
love. This deep internal gratitude to G-d
for allowing us to be His people, to accomplish His mission, and to be part of
the awesome journey of mankind towards
bringing heaven down to earth – there is
no drug, no ‘thing’, no friendship that can
compare to this joy.
What greater gift is there than knowing
that our thoughts, words and actions can
tip the scale of the universe at any moment and bring salvation to us and our
seven billion fellow residents (plus all
those who have passed on and will return
at the resurrection)?
To quote one of my favourite songs:
“What you’re looking for
Is right there at your door
Believe me when I tell you friend – you
couldn’t ask for more
What your heart has known
Is that there is no place like home
So come on back, oh you’ll never be
alone…”
You don’t need to look elsewhere to
find your joy. It’s here, it’s in you, it’s
beautiful… And it’s free! JL
Rabbi Levi Avtzon is the associate rabbi at Linksfield Senderwood Hebrew
Congregation and a teacher at the Torah Academy Boys High School. Catch him
Tuesday’s at 1pm on the Farbrengen Show on ChaiFM, visit Chabad.org.
Write to Rabbi Avtzon at [email protected]
PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER
IN LIFE IS FREE