Who knew that the key to success
stood on two feet? There are various
scientific theories for bipedalism, namely, that the freedom of our hands allows
for highly advantageous innovations.
However, that advantage should have been canceled out by the aches in
our creaky backs. Being upright doesn’t
always pay.
The deeper spiritual sources say
that the back pain is worth every wince.
Why? Because the main advantage
of bipedal locomotion is that it gives a man a great view. Here, in particular, is where the scientists and
mystics diverge. Science will say that
another advantage of being upright is that it is easier to spot a
predator. A mystic will tell you that
the main advantage of the view when upright is not because we can see large
swathes of savannah, but because it easy to look up. And that may be the real key to our success.
It says in Ethics of our Fathers
(2:1) ‘Look at three things and you won’t come to the hands of misuse of
potential. Know what is above from you-
an eye sees, an ear hears, and all of your actions are written in a book.’ Why
couldn’t the Mishnah state, ‘know these three things’? (1) Where are we looking?
The answer is up. One look at the sky should put us in our
place. We are a fleeting blip on the
radar screen. The incorrect reaction at
this point is to quit and say, ’nothing I do really matters, look at how small
I am’. The correct response is that in such
a huge world, somebody cared to put me here too.
I wonder why. It could be that everything
I do really matters!
Therein is our success. Our upright posture is meant to work together
with the beautiful sky as a constant reminder that there is a reason why we are here. We all have a free personal trainer screaming
in our ears, we need you to do something special here so keep pushing. Otherwise, why else would you be here?
(1) See Marahal Derech HaChayim
(1) See Marahal Derech HaChayim
