Many times we are tied to pegs in the ground. There are situations where we don’t reach up for greatness because we are contained – not by ropes, but by limiting beliefs that prevent us from breaking away from the habits and lifestyle choices that stunt our growth.
Moshe Rabbeinu was providing an invaluable lesson to us. He was demonstrating the capacity of the human. He was showing us how great a person can be. At the end of the day, Moshe was made of the same substance as you and I. He was a person with drives, desires, and inclinations. He overcame them. He made himself great. He took the natural strengths and weaknesses he was given, and by constantly making the right choices, he changed his inner nature. Finally, he reached the point where he could look at the absolute heights of perfection and say, “So what? This isn’t a big deal. It can easily be done.”
The lesson to us is that we too have that capacity. All of life is but an opportunity to make choices. If from this moment forward I were to put away all of my self-interest and ask myself, “What do I think is the right way to act? What do I think Hashem wants me to do in this situation? Not what do I want, not what do I desire, but what is the proper way?” – I have the intuitive sense to be able to answer correctly and the ability to find the right path.
By attuning myself to that part, and by using role models who reached such plateaus, I too can reach the dizzying heights of greatness for which I was created.
To view Rabbi Shafier’s parsha video click here.