Life's Ladder

Two thoughts in a busy week when I didn’t have time to open a sefer (book), but I remember that this is the parshah with Jacob and his dream of a ladder.

Life is a ladder. We go up. We go down. Sometimes we are at the bottom and sometimes at the top.

Some women, they spend their day up there- in their heads.

All the time in their thoughts. In their worries, fears, and potential problems. So much up there. It is all with good intention. To grow and heal and change, to soar new heights and achieve spiritual achievements. But they get carried away and most of the time I find that they feel miserable and unhappy with their lot.

And some women, they are so much down here. Busy and running and running. No time to think or stop. Life is about obtaining the tangible, making the bills that month. They have the best intentions. They want to do and do and do, but I find that they too get carried away and most of the time feel miserable and unsatisfied with their running.

Now, again, life is a ladder. It’s up and down with many levels

along the way. I think about this week’s parshah and Jacob’s prophetic dream. When he awoke he exclaimed, "Indeed, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know [it] (Bereshiet 28:16).”

Maybe Jacob was afraid that it was all or nothing. Either I am up there or down here, either this world or that. He just came from a spiritual safe-heaven and now he was running, but he stopped. And we learn from this that life is a ladder, it’s a constant titter-totter, a constant balancing act.

Between the spiritual and the physical, between the thoughts and tangible matters. It’s elevating the mundane and making the lofty more accessible.

Life is not a straight line, but a ladder. Up and down with many levels and stops.

***

Last night a young mother came for a massage, for some strengthening and balancing. I had treated her once last month and do you know the compliment that she gave? She told me that she learned from the last massage that by taking care of herself she was able to be a better giver.

Interesting no? I have been married now nineteen years (BH!!!!) and it took me so long to learn when this young mother now knows…

Jacob spent fourteen years learning in the yeshivah of Shem and Eber. HE didn’t sleep those fourteen years. Then he left and went to find his wife (ves-in the end he got four!) and was thrust into a world were he would be a giver and a provider and what did he do first? He lied down and took a nap!

And what do we learn here????

"Indeed, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know [it]”

That’s right, it’s holy work, self-care. With the proper intention taking care of oneself makes us a better giver.

May we find the balance and always connect what is down below to what is on top. May we live each moment of our lives knowing that Hashem is here and may we do self-care to be a better giver.

Many blessings and Shabbat Shalom!

Elana