Daily Tasks of Holiness
Again? She doesn’t understand why she keeps coming back to the same scenario again and again. She feels disheartened, discouraged. Didn’t she already work on this? Was all that work in vain?
We take a step back and evaluate the situation. Maybe the whole reason why she came into this world was to work on this one thing! Whatever it is. Maybe it’s a character trait that tries to ruin her day? Maybe it’s an emotion that tries to rule over her actions? Maybe it’s a situation or a (type of) person who she finds challenging…that repeats itself time and time again. She comes back to it and yes, she has to work on it over and over. She wants to give up. She says, “Not again!!! I’m so tired of this already.”
But yes, that’s why she’s are here. That’s why we are here. For the process and for the working, not for the results or to achieve a level of perfection that doesn’t exist in this world, but only the next…
***
She’s married now for decades, decades! She listens to the young bride who is married now for a few months and she can’t believe what she hears. The young woman is ready to give up. It’s too much work she moans. What exactly is the work? The works is on herself, it’s on accepting and being content with the contents of the entire package, not just the ribbons or the bows. She looks at the young bride and thinks back to all those decades ago when she herself didn’t understand or value the importance of the work, the constant work. Holy, daily, work.
She encourages the young bride and reassures her. The couple married for fifty years, they live in harmony only with the daily work. Like the ballerina who gracefully twirls with “apparent ease”, it takes daily practice, dedication, time and patience. Yes, daily work, holy work. It’s worth it.
***
The mother picks up the toys for the tenth time and sweeps the floor at night knowing that tomorrow it will be dirty again. She makes another snack, cuts up yet another apple. She changes diapers that will be soiled and washes clothes that will be dirtied. It’s one chore and one prayer and she repeats it over and over again. And it’s so much work. Daily work of…holiness.
***
She tells me that she knows that she needs to exercise, and that she should go three times to the gym for an hour. I ask her if she goes and she answers here and there. I tell her to do ten minutes a day- walking, dancing, jumping jacks, whatever she wants. Everyday…consistency, yes it adds up! Ten minutes of consistency is worth more than an hour once a week. This you’ll do and that you’ll drop.
It’s about a constant connection-with yourself, your body, your soul. A connection with your Creator!
***
Everyday holiness, holy holy mundane everyday work. Yes! It’s imperative. It’s holy. The goal is the process and the daily work!
Like the Cohenim (Priests) with offerings to Hashem.
And the fire on the altar shall burn on it; it shall not go out. The kohen shall kindle wood upon it every morning, and upon it, he shall arrange the burnt offering and cause the fats of the peace offerings to [go up in] smoke upon it. A continuous fire shall burn upon the altar; it shall not go out. (Vayikra 6:5-6).
So the once a year Purim rush is incredible and Pesach is inspiring, but please don’t underestimate or under value the holiness of what you do to…maintain your home, your marriage, your level of connection, closeness, observance. Don’t underestimate the value of those daily tasks and the daily acts and the value of daily self care and self love and working on your faith, your character traits, your physical and mental health.
Please listen to me well, it’s our efforts that count, not the result. That’s right efforts of small, consistent, even boring, acts of daily work.
G-d loves those daily tasks, the ones that we do over and over again. They make us better people.
May we merit to see the holiness in the daily as much in the once a year!
Purim Sameach! Shabbat Shalom,
With blessings,
Elana