Given our
penchant for doing our own thing regardless of the consequences, it must be
that we don’t take those consequences all that seriously. If we did we would conduct our affairs in a key
more commensurate with the reality of our situation rather than be terminally off
key.
This is nothing
more than an obtuse way of saying that if we really believed in Hashem we
wouldn’t do what we do.
And the reason
that we don’t internalize the knowledge of Hashem the way we should is because He’s
not real to us. And for the why of
this we need look no further than Bilevavi Mishkan Evneh which teaches
us that Hashem’s invisible due to the superficial perspective with which we view
the world. By virtue of this filter,
Hashem’s Hand and Providence
are seen only during very unnatural miracles.
And given the
fact that the big bang miracles were a one time phenomenon in history, our
superficial perspective essentially renders us blind to the reality of Hashem
in the world.
As a
consequence, despite myriad examples and proofs brought by the Sha’ar HaBechina
of the Chovos Halavovos showing how Hashem can be seen in every aspect of what
we call Nature, our eyes glaze over this seamless perfection which bespeaks of
a world of plan and purpose and we see nothing.
It is imperative
that we flee from this superficial perspective as if it were the plague,
because that’s exactly what it is. It is
a pox that distorts our field of vision replacing what should be a vision of
the Divine with a blank screen.
Rather, as Bilevavi
Mishkan Evneh tells us, a person must go beyond even what can be seen in
Nature and see Hashem within each and every detail of his life.
With this deeper
perspective of seeing the Godliness that underlines inanimate objects, plants,
animals and humans, one elevates them from the ordinary to being creations connected
to Hashem.
And at the
end of the day this defines the entire greatness of any created being: the degree to which Hashem is seen and
revealed it.
But even with
Hashem in our face, so to speak, wherever we turn He remains somewhat out of focus because,
ever present as He may be, we’re still looking in the wrong direction.
Hashem is called
a Hidden G-d.
Where does He
hide? In a person’s heart.
And if one wants
to connect to Him as opposed to being merely cognizant of Him within
everything that appears on his screen he has to work to uncover Hashem's presence in
his heart.
