Teaching Materials
11 Insights of Highly Successful Individuals
Teaching MaterialsInsight #2: Instructions for Living
Because life is so complicated, it comes with instructions.
1) Imagine the following two scenarios:
a)A person is about to operate on someone who has just had a heart attack. You say: oh, so you're a doctor? He says: no - I just thought I'd give it a try - why not?
You say: get this crazy man out of here!!
b) A person wants to build a bridge. He says: give me some bricks and cement and I'll build a beautiful bridge. You say: oh - so you're an engineer? He says: no - it just seems like the kind of stuff you need to make a good bridge! Would you be the first to drive over his bridge?!
We all understand that if you want to operate on someone or if you want to build a bridge, you need to spend many good years at medical school or many years learning about engineering. Otherwise, you're a dangerous man! Before taking on such projects, you need a lot of instruction. Not getting the instructions first is simply crazy.
2) Now, consider for a moment: is life any less complex than building a bridge or performing a medical operation? Are relationships, marriage, bringing up kids, and being successful and happy things that we should leave to our intuition? Yet, somehow we tend to lunge into life, into all these areas and more, without any "instruction." We'll see how it goes and learn on the job! Is that any less crazy?!
To understand yourself, to properly experience friendship or marriage, you need an education. These pursuits are as complicated as medicine or engineering.
One out of two people these days get divorced. Does it make sense to learn about marriage before taking the plunge? What is marriage? What are the common mistakes people make? What does it take to make it a success? To get it right, it makes sense to learn about marriage first. This holds true in every area of our lives.
3) This is what learning Torah is all about - the commitment to understand how to avoid the mistakes and get the most out of life. In fact, the word "Torah" actually means "instructions." The Torah is referred to as "Torat Chaim" - which means: instructions for living - an instruction manual for life, so we can avoid the mistakes, and learn how to get the most pleasure out of life.
4) Here's another way of looking at it: What do a plug, a fridge and a car have in common?
If you buy a simple plug, it comes with some written instructions: place the blue wire here, and the brown wire there - otherwise, you might be in trouble! A game of monopoly, chess or even snakes (shoots) & ladders comes with its own set of instructions. If you buy something more complex - a radio - it comes with a pamphlet of instructions. A computer - comes with a book. A car needs a book as well as a teacher to explain it and to put it into practice. To make a game without instructions would be crazy. You just don't know how to play or what to do! Anyone who invents something purposeful writes a set of instructions to go with it.
The same is true for life. If the world was created for us, it makes sense that the Creator would give us a set of instructions that would help us understand how to use it - so we don't stick the brown wire in the blue hole, and so that we can live life sensibly, and play the game just right.
Addendum:
Imagine if we received a communication from outer space - from an Unidentified Flying Object - the first of its kind. It'd be on the radio, television, e-mail - everyone would be talking about it. Just one problem - we have no idea what it means. People would spend night and day trying to decipher it - to understand what this crucial communication means.
Imagine the Almighty sent a communication to mankind in order to teach us how to get the most out of life. Would we say to G-d: thanks a lot - I'd love to read it - just that I have a few more important things to do. Got a few Danielle Steele novels to read first... I'll get round to your book some day! ...Or should we stay up night and day trying to decipher it!
This is the Jewish concept. The Almighty revealed the secrets of the universe to us in His own instruction manual-The Torah. We shouldn't leave it alone!
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(2)Editor, Oct 26, 2010
Answer: how to mekarev your children.
In this situation, it sounds like the most effective way to bring them close would be to continue inviting them over for Shabbat, to bring them into your environment of kedusha, Torah, love, and acceptance. This will have a long-term positive effect. Also, tefillah. Daven for them every day, and do mitzvot in their zechut. If you would like a Kiruv Mentor to coach you along, please email Rhoran@projectinspire.com B'hatzlacha.
(1)Anonymous, Oct 26, 2010
How to make Kiruv to your own children
Married children with own children don't want to listen what you have to say. They came every 15 days for Shabbat night,we go to the Shul, we pray together,the boys put tefilim every day, but they are far away from Yidishkait. So to begin with them an emes Kiruv what are your advices to do