Mission: Finding Your Own Piece of the Puzzle
Many men and women all over the planet seek clarity and inspiration to find and begin to work on their mission in life. But sweeping “Mission Statements” can overwhelm us to the point where we just never get around to taking the first step. Yet all of us can discover how to make a start by looking within and discovering just how we, as individuals, can bring our own unique talents to the challenge of transforming our world.
As a follow up to Stephen Simmer’s wonderful description called The Daimon of Mission we are proud to share this piece by Professor and New Warrior Benyamin Lichtenstein.
Gentlemen,
Many notes of passion have been expressed in these ‘halls’ – Blessings
to all of us who are so engaged in our Work. A couple of thoughts
from me, as I’m here on retreat: four full work-days without my
family, writing full-time on my Book. This then begins with a deep
appreciation to my wife Sasha, who in addition to her jobs and
commissions, is solo-parenting our 10-year old and our 8 year old, and
doing all of my weekly home maintenance tasks as well. What a gift it
is to have time – time to write, time to create! And this from my
sabbatical: a full year off of teaching. So, I’m quite biased in my
words.
My question around passion has always been in the realm of
sustainability: HOW do I sustain my passion, how do I create time to
enact my mission on a weekly basis? Not just ‘after the workshop’ in
a joyful mix of energy and new mastery, but many weeks down the line,
and every week of every year through my life? That’s a great question
– a harder one than I would like, frankly. Except too, I find myself
living my mission pretty often these days, so I’m clearly doing some
things right.
[My comment here is also directed at the “just go do it” elements of
these posts. Yes, yes, yes – feel that energy, feel the Wild Man and
bang on the poles of your cage. But the real question for me is, what
does it mean, tangibly, on a day-to-day basis? What am I going to say
‘no’ to, in order to give me the time and space to say YESS to my
dreams – which means allocating time and resources to organizing my
life so that I’m constantly living my dreams. O.K., point made.]
The second piece is a Jewish tale, a well-known proverb of sorts from
the Chassidic line of teaching, which arose in the late 1700s in
response to the strict observances being promulgated by the
‘mainstream’ Rabbinic Jews. The proverb is a story, but I’ll
summarize it briefly: We each are a piece in the puzzle. My piece
is my Work, my contribution to the world; this contribution, this
value is one that only I can offer – it is my unique part in the total
play, for there is only one puzzle piece that is ‘shaped’ like me.
And thus, everyone carries their own puzzle piece. Everyone. Every human.
Our task is to put the puzzle together. The entire puzzle. And once
that happens – when everyone has requisite food and health, and
everyone in the world is actually living their piece of the puzzle:
That’s when the Transformation happens. In Chassidic terms, that is
when the Messiah will come. In Christian terms it’s the origin of the
second coming. In terms known to all of us from the New Age, it is the
dawning of the age of Aquarius…
What’s really cool about this idea – and except for my additions it’s
an ancient idea, handed down for generations since the 1700s – is that
my task is to fulfill MY piece of the puzzle. Another story: When
Reb Zuzya was seen crying on his death bed, his students asked him
why. (Reb Zuzya was certainly one of the most enlightened masters of
his generation Eastern Europe). He said, “When I go in front of the
Great One upon my death, I will not be asked, “Why were you not more
like Moses?” [Conveying the desire to become the most humble, most
capable human known to us]. “Instead I will be asked, ‘Why were you
not more like Zuzya.’”
May be all find our way to becoming who WE are. Maybe our piece of
the puzzle is pursuing a community organizing event. Maybe our piece
of the puzzle – like mine – revolves around writing, around waking
people up through words, and publishing. Maybe our piece is about
teaching, or pursuing the professional practice that leads to healing
each individual we see.
In a sense, I’m curious and engaged in learning about each man’s
puzzle piece, and how its being expressed in the world.
With appreciation,
{:=>)
Benyamin B. Lichtenstein
cjc
– is a deeply personal issue that everyone decides for himself. Sometimes the price is high, sometimes low. But this is not very important for life. Life is an interesting thing. And the price on Viagra – too.
