Torah Thoughts
Parshat Bo Exodus 10:1 – 13:16
January 31, 2009 6 Shevat, 5769
I’ll admit it. I am stubborn. At times, I am very stubborn. Sometimes being stubborn is a problem. Sometimes, it’s a virtue. When we look at it as a problem, stubbornness is about being obstinate, rigid, headstrong, stiff, unyielding. When we see it as a virtue, it’s about being dedicated, sure, unwavering, certain. When a person absolutely sticks to his/her plan and achieves a goal, we call that fortitude, or stick-to-it-iveness, persistence, determination, dedication. When we disagree with that dedicated, determined person, then the determined person often is perceived as stubborn.
A judge who is determined that a law is very clear is considered to be fair and honest, except by the people trying to persuade that judge of different perspectives. A doctor who has perfected a medical procedure, and sticks to it because it works well for his/her patients is considered an expert. Until, of course, new procedures s/he doesn’t use because they are not his/her way. A teacher who knows the facts, has studied and knows answers to the questions his/her curriculum raises is considered to be a master. But when others disagree with this person’s interpretation of reality, s/he is seen as obstinate, unyielding.
In many ways, I really don’t think I’m all that much more stubborn than most other people. It’s just when other people disagree with me, and I know I’m right, I stick to my guns. My guess is most people stick to who they are, what they believe, and are rarely all that ready, willing or able to move their positions and opinions on just about anything. That’s one of the reasons why New Years resolutions often don’t work or why every year we come together on Yom Kippur and confess exactly the same sins as the previous year. We cheated, we gossiped, we were miserly, we hurt other people last year, and my guess is that it doesn’t change all that much after Yom Kippur. The optimists among us say that people can and do change; their counterparts say “nah, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Sometimes we get stuck in places that could change if only we would let them. Illness, depression, addictions, enslaving habits can all be expressions of how we hold on to that which maybe we could be better off without. Maybe if we let go of what holds us back, we could change, grow, and experience the world, and our lives, in completely different ways.
If we look at our practice of Judaism, (or if you’re not Jewish, your religion) we can also see how this intractability is reflected. Think about it. Can you define what Judaism is all about, for you? What does it mean to be Jewish? How is your Judaism reflected in your life? How have you changed and developed in your religious practice in the last years?
Have you come to different understandings this year? Have studied a Jewish text this year, or read a Jewish, non-fiction book, or expanded your experience and practice of Judaism in any way in the past months?
In our congregations, sometimes we don’t explore why we do things the same way, year after year, or don’t explore how our traditions change and grow to include new traditions. We get so stubborn that there is a “tradition” that we forget the tradition is supposed to be creative, growing, flowing and moving – that the tradition can be more an act of stubbornness than an act of faith.
For those of you who are now wondering, yes, there is a connection with this theme and this week’s Torah portion, Bo. Remember we left off last week with two very stubborn men – Moses and Pharaoh, both locked in a battle of their own commitments. Seven plagues took place last week, and this week we read about the last three. Many of us get very concerned by the fact that in these plagues G!d hardens Pharaoh’s heart, G!d makes him refuse to let the people go.
Why would G!d take away Pharaoh’s choice? Because Pharaoh has done it all along – it was his nature – to give up, realize the error of his ways, and to return to his normal behavior, which was to never give up. Pharaoh had lost his ability to change; in hardening his heart G!d was simply keeping Pharaoh doing what was natural for him.
It’s natural for us, as well. Human nature determines that we are going to just be that way. The challenge, which I think is G!d’s message in the story, is to figure out ways to go against our very nature, to break the habits, to shed our stubbornness, to move beyond that which is usual and normal for each of us, and to be open to the ever-expanding wealth of our own potential.
May it be Your will, Holy One our G!d, that we find ways to defrost our hearts and our minds, our souls and our spirits, so that we can be less stubborn and more open to that which is different. May You lead us to find new ways of experiencing Your presence here with us, and may we continue to strive to attain our potential for change.
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