THE DISCIPLINE OF DISTANCE
An extraordinary author (one of my favorites) by the name
of Chaim Potok writes extensively about the life experiences of Hasidic
Jews. He penned numerous novels that I enjoyed immensely during earlier
years: “In The Beginning,” “The Book of Lights,” “Davita’s Harp,” “My Name is
Asher Lev,” “The Promise,” and my all-time favorite, “The Chosen.”
In Potok’s book, “The Chosen,” he spins the story of Danny
Saunders, the eldest son of a strict Hasidic Rabbi. For many years,
Danny’s brilliant yet very human father, never spoke one solitary word to his
son, except when teaching him from the Torah and Talmud.
On the surface, this total silence appeared to be a
terrible act of cruelty, but one day its mystery and meaning is revealed.
Rabbi Saunders explained that God had blessed him with a remarkable son, a
child with a mind as rare and precious as a jewel. When Danny was just
four years old, his father saw him reading a book and became frightened.
The book described the suffering of a poor Jew, yet Danny appeared to
thoroughly enjoy it!
In Rabbi Saunders’ view, “There was no soul in my
4-year-old Daniel, there was only a mind.” The Rabbi cried out to God,
“What have you done to me? A mind like this I need for a son? A
heart I need for a son, a soul I need for a son, compassion, righteousness,
strength to suffer and carry pain.”
Thereafter Rabbi Saunders followed an ancient Hasidic
tradition that would allow him to raise his boy with a bare minimum of words
passing between them. The result – from the Rabbi’s point of view? “In
the silence between us, Danny began to hear the world crying.”
If this story sounds vaguely familiar, it is due to this
fact: All mature Christians have experienced those lonely moments when it feels
like GOD is absolutely silent, noticeably absent from our lives and our circumstances.
Prayer seems somehow hollow and ineffective when GOD is MIA, missing in
action. Frantically, we ask ourselves, “Does Heaven even HEAR us?
Oh GOD…are you THERE?” At such moments, we engage meticulous
soul-searching, a thorough and honest self-examination. But quite often,
no transgression is discovered that explains ‘WHY’ God seems to have gone on
sabbatical. We feel isolated. We feel desperate and fearful that His
presence might not soon return.
But the promises of God are steadfast and sure. (Hebrews
6:19) What did Jesus Christ say in connection with this? “Lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, even to the end
of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NKJV)
In truth, God’s ‘strange’ teaching methodology is reflected
and repeated in His creation. Those seasons of silence are much like the
moment when the soaring eagle drops its eaglet into the upper atmosphere,
trusting that there is sufficient strength and knowledge to soar on its
own. Those seasons of silence are much like the moment when I removed
training wheels from the bicycles of Wayne II, or Mike, or Kim – giving them
one hopeful push while trusting that I had been a skillful tutor and they had
been attentive learners.
Rabbi Saunders always loved his son. Indeed, the
mature eagle is always nearby. Likewise, the watchful parent never leaves
the scene. But mission-critical lessons of TRUST and FAITH may
reside in apparent silence and distance.
GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU…OR ME. LESSON LEARNED.
Sometimes, He is merely allowing space for our spiritual
and emotional development, i.e. those priceless opportunities to be
experientially conformed to the image of Christ. So, don’t stress.
There is purpose in the pressure. And there is destiny in what only
‘looks like’ distance.
Look around you, my friend, through the eyes of faith.
JEHOVAH SHAMMAH IS THERE. (Ezekiel 48:35)
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