Do you see what I see?

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The Torah describes an incident in which dangerous snakes attacked the Jews while they were in the desert. The people cried out for help and Moshe erected a pole with the image of a snake at its top. The Torah relates, “It was, that whoever was bitten by the snakes, they would look to the image that Moshe erected, and they would be healed.”

The Talmud asks, “Could it be that the image of a snake caused people to be healed?” The Talmud explains that when people looked up at the image of the snake that Moshe created, they were reminded to look even higher. They saw the image as a catalyst for heartfelt prayer. They realized that the snakes came from G-d, and only He could save them.

It is fascinating that years later people looked at the image which Moshe built, and did not see deeper than its surface. Jewish Scripture records that in the time of King Chizkiya there were people who worshipped the image as an idol, instead of being reminded through it to focus exclusively on G-d. Chizkiya took the bold step of destroying the image that was made by Moshe, because he saw that people were not seeing its deeper message.

Much of life is to be able to see beyond the surface. When we talk to people we not only hear what they say, but we also listen to their body language, and take in a variety of “context” clues. One who does not see beyond the surface sees the “image” but doesn’t appreciate its message.

Jewish tradition compares life to the “garden maze” in which one walks between the bushes trying to get from start to finish. One who is in the maze has trouble interpreting the signs which he encounters. “Is this turn an opportunity, or merely a dead end.” Only one who has risen above the challenges can turn around and advise people as to which turn to take. Everyone sees the same “image” but only one with the gift of vision can appricaite its deeper ramifications.

Recently I had a conversation with a young man who was embarking on a three year program for a prestigious sounding degree. I asked him in all innocence what he would be able to do with the degree once he obtained it. Did his chosen field have significant job opportunities? He told me he wasn’t sure. I recommended that he speak to a guidance counselor before the semester began.

He phoned me two days later to tell me that he met with the guidance counselor. It was now clear to him that there were few job opportunities in the field. “Actually,” the guidance counselor told him, “Those who excel in this field, end up going on to teach others.”

He posed the question to me. “What do you think I should do?”

I said, “You should thank G-d for helping you realize the deeper significance of your field choice before you spend three prime years of your life on it, and then regret it.”

Our sages felt very strongly about the importance of having a mentor in our lives. Parents, guidance counselors, Rabbis, and people with life experience whom we can respect play in important role in the decision making process. If a trusted mentor tells you something, listen well. Sometimes such people can see things that we simply cannot see.

© 2014 by TEACH613™