 A lesson of purity that we can learn from the ark and it's method of construction.
While my husband and I were listening to Pardes from Jerusalem last Shabbat, a subject came up that has always impressed me. Raised in a mostly secular environment as a young girl, it is something that I didn't learn until well into adulthood... being the same inside as you are outside. Really.
I was always somewhat of a loner being an only child and never quite understanding the dynamics of the mental "chess games" that are played during social interaction with others. As I matured I learned to play though and became so successful at it that I really no longer recognized its existence.
You know, saying one thing while meaning something different in order to achieve a certain reaction in someone else that can be used as a catalyst to make a point or to achieve an objective. Acting one way with one person in order to avoid offending them or to better relate to them, while acting another way with someone else in order to better relate to that person.
The lesson related to the ark - and how like the ark, we are simply acacia wood but the ark is layered with gold not only on the outside but on the inside as well. According to the midrash, this is a lesson in purity for the Jewish people. Are we the same on the inside as we are on the outside?
Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone was? If this is a lesson that you were never taught, try today to accomplish it. Try to openly relate exactly what you mean and just what you feel in your heart. If you feel touched by something in your heart, show it instead of hiding it. I'm not saying that you should turn into a sobbing pile of tears, however, instead of pushing it away for private introspection later on, relate to the person near you that you were touched by it and why.
If someone asks you for your opinion on a matter, be honest. Don't simply say "as you like". Let everyone see your true spirit through your words and expressions. You will find that you will often encourage others to open up with you and that you just might learn a little something about your self.
Being the same outside as you are inside requires an actual state of purity that is unquestionable. Your word is your word and your intentions become as clear as spring water to your self and everyone around you. It's a truly liberating state of existence!
Eliyahna at TorahWomen.com
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