It is part of your avodas Hashem. But you have to be clear with yourself that you are going as part of your avodas hachassidus. Just as with the Baal Shem Tov, no matter what he did, what he was involved in, it was as the Baal Shem Tov, and every moment of his life he lived as the Baal Shem Tov (regardless of how it may have appeared), so too, with each of us, all that we do needs to be an expression of our living as Chassidim.
In this week’s Parsha we learn about Pinchas. Pinchas was the grandson of Aharon, and thus, the Torah attests, inherited his characteristics of “oihev sholom verodef sholom”. It didn’t mean that that love always wore the same face. On the contrary, in this week’s Parsha, it had the appearance of cruel vengeance, which necessitated the Torah’s bearing witness that in truth the act was an expression of the same inherent traits. For these traits were the essence of Pinchas, they were what defined him, and any act he was involved with was fueled by them all the same.
So, enjoy your bungee jumping, parasailing, and sky-diving. As long as you bear in mind, that it is never a deviation from who and what you really are. So that wherever you are, and whatever you do, it is all the expression of the chosid that is within you, who is engaged in jumping out of golus, and sailing – with the greatest shturem – into the geulah ho’amitis vehashleimah!
L’chaim! May this we take advantage of the geulah of Yud Gimmel Tamuz to liberate ourselves from all of the obstacles, and may the Eibishter take this opportunity to liberate all of us from this over-long golus, and sail us – complete with all of the wotldly pleasures that we used in order to serve Him – into the complete and final Geulah hoAmitis veHashleimah through Moshiach Tzidkeinu TUMYM!!!
Rabbi Akiva Wagner
