Pause

After you’ve read the books, the blogs, listened to the preachers and teachers, the bottom line when it comes to parenting rests on one second or two. It’s the pause that allows you to not react to the situation but incorporate some of the teachings and practices you’ve read about.

After you’ve listened to your coach, read the self help book, done the meditation, the bottom line when it comes to effectively managing your employees, getting along with your mother, controlling your impulses, rests on one second or two. It’s the pause that allows you to not react and instead own the situation, operate from a place of control – self control.

G-d is found in the pause.

The mind works at non stop speed. The heart races with emotion. How do we not knee jerk react?

G-d is found in the pause.

I guess it’s faith and trust and perhaps a bit of training that compels us to pause. When we do, we find something in the emptiness of the pause that transcends the mind and the heart.

In this week’s Torah portion, on the 8th day of celebration and dedication of the Mishkan in the desert, Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu bring an offering they weren’t supposed to have brought. (According to Chasidic teachings the strange fire was an unbridled yearning connection with the Divine to the extent that their bodies were not able to contain the yearning.) In the moment of this terrible tragedy on this wonderful day of celebration, Aaron remains silent. He pauses. Says nothing. Doesn’t question G-d’s plan.

The Midrash tells us that in the merit of his silence he merits for the Divine Presence to unite with him. On a literal level it means that G-d shared the next section of the Torah’s teaching via Aaron. Perhaps though the Midrash is emphasizing the above point. When we are silent, when we pause, we merit to see the Divine. That might mean that we merit to see the Divine in the crying child, the irritating neighbor, the nagging mother or in ourselves through our own anger and insecurities.

After all doesn’t it say Silence is Divine or G-d is in the Pause?

Shabbat Shalom!