From NarrowBridge.Org
Reb Nosson wrote:
In every sphere, the only thing a person can do is to wait for G-d's salvation and, in the meantime, to petition G-d to send him what he needs. Be it small or large, whatever our needs; whether food or drink, clothing, shelter, eating utensils, furniture, domestic help, tuition money, or anything else, there is no advice and no strategy other than to throw our burden on G-d, begging Him to send us what we need. If we have to take some action, or to discover some advice or strategy about what to do, we should ask and rely on G-d to help us and to supply us with good advice at the proper time.
(Healing Leaves, p. 71)
What does this mean to me?
There are people who don't like to hear that prayer is the answer. "What about having a duty to make effort? What about being realistic about the way that this world works?" they ask, exasperated. Reb Nosson shows us that there is no contradiction between our need to make effort and the fact that prayer and patience is the solution. Whatever we need—and he is so specific, down to the tuition!—we must turn to G-d for it. Until the help arrives, we exercise the quality of patience. And before we make any decision or take the steps that we see laid out before us to secure those needs, we ask for Good, Orderly Direction—whose initials spell, what else? G-d.
A prayer:
G-d of patience,
teach me patience.
Help me learn
to wait-
• for the good
that is just around the
corner;
• for the assistance
that will soon be within
reach;
• for the relief
that is just a moment away
(The Gentle Weapon*, p. 52)
Shalom,
RRW
2 comments:
reb nosson is taking the approach of the chovot levavot. He is basing himself on r. nachman who also held from this approach. I forget all the references but in general r nachman believed there is a valid approach of trust without effort but that this was not an obligation but rather one can do it if he feels up to it.
there is a funny kind of dynamic in the yeshiva world about parnasah. in Lakewood learning Torah in itself is considered working for money (hishtadelut) . For others like baal teshuva from whom they expect to be supported they emphasize effort hashtadelt. To me it looks like an attempt to create a caste system like when the Iranians conquered India and instituted a caste system with themselves as top class as Divine beings that everyone else was suppose to support. It seems to me to be suspiciously unkosher and not really in accord with the Torah.
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