At the threshold of the ultimate good,
the highest, most divine sparks lie at our feet,
but we are too busy to bend down and pick them up.
Where the greatest of miracles occur,
we are too preoccupied to lift our eyes and notice.
The table is set for a feast, but we are all asleep
—and only we can wake ourselves from our dreams.
The human mind attracts and rejects things and ideas and values are formed depending on each individual's unique circumstances, bringing to mind Freud's id, ego and superego. The latter is there to separate right from wrong in thought and deeds.
Torah properly studied, with Rashi and Chabad insight gives the mental flexibility to bend and pick up the jewels lying at our feet. The litmus test of right or wrong is:
ונמצא חן ושכל טוב בעיני ד' ואדם..
None is exempt from making moral judgments and acting accordingly..We all must struggle and juggle the issues of faith, health, relations, intimacy, money and location etc
We all make mistakes but the Psalmist
reassures the faithful that G-d is always
there for you even in the valley of death.
גם כי אלך בגיא צלמות לא אמרה רע כי אתה עמדי.
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The Table
Yes, we are preoccupied! We are ensnared in the cult of spiritual materialism that turns God into another product, another fashion statement, another book of witty sayings, another 10 million dollar shul, another guru to be followed. Lots of "Jewish" stuff to be consumed, a business that brings in millions and millions. Busy,busy,busy....
We are told to remember the exodus. What happened to the simple spiritual reality of the Jews that left Egypt? No books, No Rebbes, no mysticism, no siddurs, no Talmud, no shuls, no special clothing, no constant demands to spend, spend, spend on spiritual enlightenment - just a real a present GOD.
It's our burning need to consume all the stuff that makes up our spirituality that turns the pursuit of spirituality into an ego building and confusion creating the distraction, that takes us out of GOD's world. God tells us that authentic Judaism only requires you and GOD to talk to each other, nothing more.
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Humility
B"H
Bending is a good path to humility.
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At The Threshold Who will wake us from our dreams? Praise HaShem, the living Jews will! He will blow His breath unto us again and we surely will wake up! No, I will not be too busy to bend out picking but I will lift my eyes up and see my salvation because you tell me so! Amen! Reply
Be within stay above
when it is time, you yourself will wake yourself up. At least for now.
Redemption is free
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If our attention is only on material things, then we miss the most important treasures that nevertheless right in front of us. Well said but H' gave us free will, and the opportunity to live our lives looking thinking and making use of these important treasures. It is therefore, our own responsibility to not be distracted and perceive what we have to see to live a Jewish life bederech. On the other hand, we do need material things also to keep us alive. iI argue, therefore, that there should be a balance by giving importance to the treasures that keep us as Jews first, but not to forget that we as humans need the material world too, The Aseret H'adibrot tell us what is forbidden in that area. H' understood that also.