Now and Never
Rabbi Raymond Beyda
NOW AND NEVER
In the Sixties impatient youth adopted the slogan "We want the world and
we want it now!" Some people go through life "grabbing with gusto." They
want instant gratification and give little consideration to decisions
--major or minor. They feel that if they don't "grab" they will miss out
on one of life's great opportunities. Impulse buying becomes a way of
life not only for trinkets, gadgets and snacks but also for major life
decisions such as job offers, choice of schools, friends and even husband
or wife.
The opposite of a "now" person is a "never" person . Business deals,
social and spiritual choices do require consideration, but they also
cannot be put off forever. Insecurity leads to indecision. Bottom line
the "never" person loses out on all the right things out of fear of
making a bad choice once in awhile.
Today when a decision has to be made--stop! Don't grab, but don't
freeze either. Think! Weigh the possibilities, consider the future and
make an enthusiastic decision. It only takes a minute but it will raise
your lifetime batting average to superstar levels.
DID YOU KNOW THAT if a Sefaradi is praying in an Ashkenazic minyan and he
is in the 12 months of mourning for a parent, and he would like to serve
as the hazan [sheliah tsibur], if the congregation agrees that he may pray
in the Sefardic wording and pronunciation, then he may pray on behalf of
the congregation. If, however, the congregation wants him to pray with
Ashkenazic nusach [wording] and pronunciation, then it is better that he
pray as a regular member of the crowd and allow someone else to serve as
hazan [source Yalkut Yosef].
Text Copyright © 2004 Rabbi Raymond Beyda and Torah.org.
