Hi – Hope you’re having a great day.
… Here’s a thought that I shared at the CTN Rosh Hashanah Experience.
A thought that may help “redeem” the time we spend with our computers.
A way to use that time for a lesson.
And to help improve our relationships.
… One of the great Rabbis of the 20th Century always looked for lessons in life.
In his days, it was the telegraph.
He would remind people how careful they were when sending a telegram.
Writing the message. Rereading it. Making changes. Trimming it.
Why?
Because they paid for each word!
And he would say, “Be careful when you speak.
No gossip.
We also pay for each word”!
… Here’s what he might have said about the computer.
It’s a famous saying…
“To err is human. To forgive is Divine”.
And we take it for granted.
Because Judaism taught the world that G-d is a loving G-d. A forgiving G-d.
But it didn’t have to be that way.
… A computer should remind us how life would be if G-d worked with strict justice.
We’ve all had this experience.
We type out a long e-mail message. A very important message.
It needs to go out now!
Then we click send and leave for an appointment.
And when we come back?
Those dreaded words…
“Delivery Status Notification (Failure)”
The message came back!
We check the address. It seems right.
And we click send again.
But it comes back again. And again.
We get frustrated. And start talking to the computer.
“Maybe there’s an extra period somewhere.
I’m sorry!”
So it’s not perfect. Does it really make a difference?
How about some compassion”?
(In Hebrew we call it “rachmanus”.)
… The computer doesn’t know from compassion.
It insists on perfection!
Imagine if we had to live like that?
If we couldn’t say to G-d, “I’m sorry”.
If on Rosh Hashanah, we couldn’t say, “Please have patience with me.
I know I said this last year.
But this year I will be better”!
… The computer should remind us to appreciate the gift of G-d’s forgiveness.
And next time someone says they’re sorry?
But we have a hard time forgiving them?
We should forgive them.
And not be like a computer.
Because it’s much better to be like G-d!
All the best,
Moshe