Hayom Yom 14 Cheshvan - Pursuing a spiritual livelihood

מֵה' מִצְעֲדֵי גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ “A man’s footsteps are made firm by G‑d, [and He desires his way].” לְכָל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לוֹ תְּעוּדָה רוּחָנִית בַּחַיִים Every member of the Jewish people has an assigned spiritual mission in life — וְהוּא לְהִתְעַסֵּק בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַבִּנְיָן לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּירָה לוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ to build a dwelling place for G‑d. וְכָל אֶחָד בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא וּבְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא Moreover, every individual, whoever and wherever he may be, צָרִיךְ לְהִתְעַנְיֵן בְּכָל מַאֲמַצֵי כּוֹחוֹ לְחַפֵּשׁ בְּחֵפֶשׂ מְחוּפָּשׁ must make great efforts to seek out and find לִמְצוֹא אֵיזֶה פַּרְנָסָה רוּחָנִית כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא מְחַפֵּש אַחַר פַּרְנָסָה גַּשְׁמִית a “spiritual livelihood,” just as he seeks out ways of earning his material livelihood. וְהוּא לְפִי שֶׁדַרְכּוֹ — שֶׁל הקב"ה — יֶחְפָּץ This is because “he desires His way” — G‑d’s path — כְּדִכְתִיב בְּאַבְרָהָם כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו גוֹ' וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה as is stated of Avraham, “For I have known him, [because he commands his children and his household after him,] that they should observe the way of G‑d (Havayah).” כִּי יֵשׁ שְׁנֵי דְרָכִים For there are two paths, דֶּרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע וְשֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מִן הַטֶּבַע the path of nature and the path that is higher than nature. הָעוֹלָם בְּרָאוֹ הקב"ה לִהְיוֹת נִרְאֶה כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא בְּדֶרֶךְ הַטֶּבַע — בְּעֵינֵי בָּשָׂר G‑d created the world in such a way that it would appear — to mortal eyes — to follow the path of nature. וְהוּא דֶּרֶךְ אֱלֹקִים This is “the path of Elokim.” תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת הֵם דֶּרֶךְ הֲוָיָ Torah and mitzvos, by contrast, are “the path of Havayah,” וְהוּא הַמְשָׁכָה שֶׁלְּמַעֲלָה מִן הַטֶּבַע בַּטֶּבַע which draws down into nature the higher realm that transcends nature. אֲשֶׁר בִּגְלַל זֹאת הִנֵּה הקב"ה מַשְׁפִּיעַ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַעֲלָה מִן הַטֶּבַע בַּטֶּבַע And in response [to a Jew’s dedication to “the path of Havayah”], G‑d draws down to the Jewish people spiritual influence that transcends nature, within the framework of nature. Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English