Living in today's fast-paced world of cellular phones, mobile computers, and other high-tech devices is not only stressful but also exceedingly impersonal. We earn money and then put our time and effort into earning more money. Is it over? No, because we are never content. How many times have we persuaded ourselves that life would be so much better if we only had a little more money? But what if, after earning a large rise, we find that it was insufficient and that we need more?
What are your options?
I've read a lot of life books, including Robin Sharma's Monk Says This and Monk Says That, and they all seem to argue that money isn't required. However, it is. Can you live without a lot of money? I'm sure I can't.
So I went to my local Rabbi and sought assistance on how to discover my real path in life.
The rabbi gave me a nod and led me to the window. "What do you see?" he inquired.
"I can see people strolling to and fro, and a blind guy is asking for charity at the left corner," I said quickly.
The Rabbi gave me a nod and led me to a large mirror. "Now look around, and tell me what you see."
"I can see myself," the guy said.
The Rabbi grinned. "You can't see anybody else now." The mirror and the window are both made of glass, but since one of them has a small film of silver on it, all you can see when you look at it is your own reflection."
The Rabbi put his arm over my shoulders. "Think of yourself in terms of those two pieces of glass. You could see the other folks without the silver coating and feel sympathy for them. When you're coated in silver, you can only see yourself."
I locked my gaze on the Rabbi. "I don't get it."
The Rabbi went on. "You will become someone only if you have the guts to remove the silver covering from your eyes and see and love people again." He clapped me on the back and waved me off.
I considered what he stated and concluded that he had a valid argument. Yes. We need money, and living a moneyless life is meaningless; it will only cost ourselves and our family grief in the future.
Instead, I propose that we follow the instruction I received from the Rabbi. When we look at life through a silver veil, all we can see is ourselves. If you remove that covering, you will be able to see and feel everyone else.
We are permitted and should be able to gaze at both types of mirrors in life, but we must remember that a mirror simply reflects ourselves; a window is a gateway to compassion, health, and genuine prosperity. In other words, pursue riches by whatever means possible, but don't let it keep you from enjoying life, people, children, and the poor and needy.
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