What are we needed for? A Chasid once poured out his heart to Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi about his many needs. The Rebbe replied, you told me everything you need, but you said not a word about what you are needed for.
We often ask for the things we need, but life is much happier, satisfying, and meaningful, when we ask what we are needed for.
If we view life as a brief chapter in an endless story starting from Creation, we realize our time here is purposeful. G-d, perfect and purposeful, created each of us with a mission. Our task is to find it by exploring the intersection of our talents, passions, and the needs around us. If we can’t find it easily, we must seek harder—even beyond our immediate community.
Escapism Is Not an Option
In our Parsha we read of two very holy men who did not want to be tied down to this world and the divinely assigned purpose that they were needed for. These men were Nadab and Abihu, the first two priests anointed by G-d to serve in the Tabernacle. They rushed into the holy of holies, knowing that the punishment would be death. But for these holy souls, it was better to die with a glimpse of G-d, than to spend a lifetime in His service.
Holy though they were, they were wrong. They might have needed to see G-d, but that is not what they were needed for. It was not why G-d needed them. If that were all G-d wanted from them, He would not have dispatched their souls to earth in the first place. G-d was not pleased with this despite the sanctity of their aspirations.
The Healthy Way
We can learn from this too. In life, there are many duties and obligations. Some of them are more stressful than others. When the stress grows too difficult to handle, many of us opt for our favorite form of escapism. Some find all manner of alternate things that need doing before being forced to do what they find stressful. The healthiest approach to the difficult tasks that life throws our way is to face them and embrace them no matter how difficult they are.
It might not feel like something we need. But it will be what we are needed for. In the end, doing what we are needed for is the healthier, better, holier, more meaningful, and more productive way to live. When we live for what we need, we run out of meaning quickly. When we feel needed, we feel important and meaningful. When our lives our meaningful, they are fulfilling and satisfying. This is the ultimate source of bliss.
By Rabbi Lazer Gurkow
