An extraordinary
author by the name of Chaim Potok writes extensively about the life experiences
of Hasidic Jews. He penned numerous novels that I have enjoyed over the
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 word to his son, except when teaching him out of the Torah and
Talmud.
On the surface, this
total silence appears to be a terrible act of cruelty, but one day the mystery
is revealed. Rabbi Saunders explains that God has 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 and brought his boy up 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: Every mature Christian has
experienced those isolating and lonely moments when GOD appears to be
absolutely silent, entirely absent from our circumstances. Prayer seems
somehow hollow and ineffective when GOD seems to be MIA, i.e. missing in
action. Frantically, we ask ourselves,
“Does Heaven even HEAR us? Oh GOD…are you there?” At such times, we
may enter into careful soul-searching, honest self-examination. But quite
often, no transgression is found that tells us ‘WHY’ God seems to have gone on
sabbatical. We feel isolated. We feel desperate and fearful that He
might not soon return to us.
But the promises of
God are steadfast and sure. (Hebrews 6:19) What did Jesus Christ
say? “Lo, I AM WITH YOU
ALWAYS, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NKJV)
God’s divine teaching
methodology is reflected and repeated throughout 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 for his offspring to soar on its own. Those seasons of
silence are much like the moment when I removed training wheels from the
bicycle 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. The mature eagle is always nearby. Likewise, the
watchful parent never leaves the scene. But mission-critical lessons
of TRUST and FAITH reside in their apparent
silence and distance.
MY FRIEND, GOD HAS NOT
FORGOTTEN YOU.
Sometimes, He is
merely allowing space for your spiritual and emotional development, i.e. the
priceless opportunity to be experientially conformed to the image of
Christ. So don’t fret or stress. There is purpose in the
pressure. And there is destiny in what only ‘looks like’ distance.
Look around you with
discerning eyes. JEHOVAH SHAMMAH IS [ALWAYS] THERE. (Ezekiel 48:35)
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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