More Than Happiness
But happiness, that’s not the only benefit. It’s very important but there’s something else, a second thing, and we can’t leave it out. When a person understands that he’s only visiting this world and he has firm conviction in the World To Come, in the afterlife, then he’s going to be very careful in utilizing this life. But not utilizing only for happiness; he’s going to utilize it to accomplish.
That’s what Dovid Hamelech expressed in Tehillim. In kapitel קי"ט, he says like this: גֵר אָנֹכִי בָאָרֶץ – “I am a stranger in this world,” and then he continues, וְאַל תַּסְתֵּר מִמֶּנִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ – and don’t hide from me any of the commandments (119:19). What’s the connection? “I’m a stranger and therefore I want to fulfill the mitzvos”?
It means what we’re saying now. Dovid said, “I know that I’m only visiting; I’m just passing through. And if that’s the case, I know what to ask for. Please Hashem, give me success in learning Your Torah and success in performing Your mitzvos. I am a stranger after all.”
It means if I had no function other than to be here, like a rabbit or a monkey, so my function is fulfilled by existing. I’d fulfill my function by eating and drinking and going to the bathroom. I could go in the woods and hike, climb trees, whatever it is, and finished. And if I’m going to ask for something I’ll ask for This World things; a fancier car or a fancier chandelier. But that’s not my function. I realize that there’s another place where I’m going to be and that’s my home. So therefore, גֵר אָנֹכִי בָאָרֶץ – because I’m only a stranger in this world, so Dovid knows what to ask for. He knows what he needs.
‘All Aboard’
It’s like the man, let’s say, who’s waiting at the bus terminal of Penn Station or Grand Central. He’s waiting for the train to come and pick him up and so he wants to sit. Is he going to order from the local furniture store that they should...
