Listening to Life's Messages - Intro

00:00 With this installment, we will, im yirtzeh Hashem, begin a new series of thoughts or insights. It will include topics in the field of profession, medical science, the arts, science, sports, and miscellaneous topics. These insights are compiled from the Lubavitcher Rebbe's talks and writings. This series is titled Listening to Life's Messages. In the introduction to a book published by Rab Dovid Shraga Polter titled Listening to Life's Messages, we read the following. Many people think of Judaism as a religion concerned mainly with the divine and the mystical belonging in the shul. It may therefore be surprising for some to discover that Jewish teaching addresses the mundane and practical, finding meaning in all areas of everyday life. This idea is clearly expressed in King Solomon's well-known quote from the book of Proverbs, In all your ways know him. In Hebrew it is, Bechol derechecha dei'u. Simply put, the life of every Jew is an organic whole. His practice is not peripheral or limited to isolated situations. Rather, it encompasses the spectrum of everyday life with its multitude of experiences. Spiritually defined in Jewish terms is a garment woven from a person's thoughts, speech, and actions. It is expressed as a cohesive and homogenous lifestyle without the personal fragmentation so prevalent in modern society. These beliefs were first expanded in an approach to Judaism known as Hasidism, a doctrine revealed by the saintly Rabbi Shlomo Bashem Tev in the 18th century. Besides seeing the presence of the divine hand in everything, this approach brought the mystical dimensions of Judaism

02:23 within reach of common folk, invigorating a people oppressed by poverty and persecution. According to the Bashem Tev, everything a person sees or hears in his lifetime is to be taken as a lesson in serving the Creator. No circumstance or event occurs at random. All the seeming variables of our lives are in fact an intricately choreographed set of circumstances presented to us only so we may use their potential to create a world in which godliness can dwell and dwell and abound. If all our life experience If all our life experiences are intended to give us opportunities for self-mastery and growth, this is especially true regarding a person's career. We often spend more time in the pursuit of our profession than in any other single activity. Obviously, one's work represents much more than simple livelihood. It presents each individual with a unique vehicle to interact with the world around him and apply his special interests and talents to affect the world. We will, im yirtzeh Hashem, continue in the next installment.