Half Full?

Some people wait for the other shoe to drop. Which reminds me of the story;

 

A guest who checked into an inn one night was warned to be quiet because the guest in the room next to his was a light sleeper. As he undressed for bed, he dropped one shoe, which, sure enough, awakened the other guest. He managed to get the other shoe off in silence, and got into bed. An hour later, he heard a pounding on the wall and a shout: “When are you going to drop the other shoe?”

 

Others just go about oblivious. Which reminds me of the saying;

Some people make things happen. Some people watch things happen. And then there are those who wonder, ‘What the ___ just happened? (Attributed to many different people on google.)

 

In fact neither of these is the Torah way.

 

In this week’s portion, Joseph uncovers a clue in Pharaoh’s dream that leads to his interpretation.

 

Pharaoh sees fat cows and skinny cows ascending from the Nile. The Torah tells us that the fat and skinny cows stood side by side on the edge of the river. It was only then that the skinny cows consumed the fat cows and still appeared skinny.

 

It was this seemingly irrelevant detail of the cows standing next to each other that was the clue Joseph needed.

 

Life has times of plenty and life has times of skinny or leanness. That’s normal. It’s the attitude that is critical in all of life’s seasons. Do I ride high and give myself credit for all the good when times are aplenty? Or do I humbly give gratitude to Hashem during the times of plenty? Do I remember that just across the way can be times of leanness and it is only G-d’s blessing that keeps it fat.

 

When times are rough do I become despondent, thinking that life is just unfair? Or do I realize that this is an opportunity for me to grow? Do I remember that in an instance G-d can change everything for good?

 

At all times, either plenty or famine, remember that standing right next to you is the other side of the coin. It keeps us humble and it keeps us connected to Hashem and the source of blessing.

 

***

 

This Sunday we will celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Chabad Intown space on the BeltLine. I’m so grateful to so many people who have been our partners in our holy work. You have made this all happen. I’m so grateful to Hashem who has blessed us with a community of wonderful people who value Jewish community, who value Torah and Mitzvos and value the important work of Chabad Intown.

 

I hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we celebrate the last night of Chanukah, Zos Chanukah, and celebrate our wonderful community!

 

Good Shabbos