This parsha is dominated by the tocheichah, a lengthy description of terrible events that will befall us if we do not follow God. At one point, in the midst of these curses, we are told that the reason they come is tahat asher lo avadeta et Hashem elokekha besimchah uvetuv levav, “because you did not serve God with joy and gladness of heart.” In other words, the way to counteract and perhaps even heal the terrible suffering described here — which we know has happened and continues to happen in the world — is to serve God in gladness. In this meditation, we consider an expanded notion of what such service involves — to find what brings you deep joy and follow that, do that as your service of God and the world.
Sources:
Deuteronomy 27:15-28:69, especially 28:47 and 67
Frederick Beuchner, Wishful Thinking: The Seeker’s ABC’s
Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 1:1
Exodus 4:14
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