Lost in a Cemetery

A clearly protective mechanism for the discomfort of loss is black humor. So when leaving a funeral this week and finding myself lost a number of thoughts came to mind.
 

Why did I just hit three dead ends?! You really don’t want to get lost in a cemetery until you are really lost for good. The only way out of here is up.

 
Anyway, it’s been a busy week and I haven’t found anything that resonated with me from this week’s portion or this weeks escapades until I hit my third dead end – not a good sign.

 
The theme of this weeks portion is plagues. Seven of the big 10 (plagues that is) are administered to the Egyptians in this weeks portion.

 
G-d tells Moses that one of the reasons for the plagues are to show up Pharaoh. Meaning, to show that Pharaoh is totally not in control. Control is when you think you have the power and ability to decide your next move. Usually, that next move is decided when you incorporate your intellectual thinking and decision making into what you want to do.
 

When you feel you want to do something and at the same time think that you should do it, but your own ego or self delusion prevent you from doing “it” you are perceived as a fool.
 

In other words, when an observer watches someone who engages in an action that is neither reflects positively on the person and at the same time you know the person is smarter than that, but yet they seem not to be able to help themselves because their ego is too big, it is a laughable situation.

 
On more “in other words”; ever do something and get terribly defensive about what you did, even though you know that your accuser has it 100% correct? It don’t feel very good. In fact you feel like a fool!
 

That is what the plagues are all about, to show up Pharaoh and to show that he is not the one in control but only He is!

 
Life’s journey is about figuring this out. Peeling away the layers of our ego to allow the true desire and will of G-d to shine through us.

 
Laughing at getting lost in the cemetery and having laid to rest a 99 year old woman who didn’t get caught up in the garbage of life (as retold by her grandchildren) left me realizing that life is quite rich if we don’t get stuck in ourselves.

 
So, my wishes to us all for this Shabbos, is to not get lost, but to rise above and see purpose in all of our decisions.

 
May the memory of Bella Barnett be a blessing to all!

 
With blessing,

 
Good Shabbos

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