I know it's hard to imagine, but one day, we will emerge from this quarantine :) While we will be thrilled to move on with life, will we take anything from this era into our post-coronavirus lives (other than a surplus of toilet paper rolls and a face-mask collection)?!
The truth is, beyond the difficult challenges this brought us, we've gained some valuable perspectives on life. Like: Getting to really know the people we share the same roof with… Humility (how little we really know)… Modesty (cutting back on extravagant parties)… Revisiting priorities (there's more to life than accumulating wealth)… Mutual responsibility… and more. Wouldn’t it be a pity to lose these hard-earned values? How can we ensure that we take these priceless treasures with us and not leave it behind?
This week's Torah portion Acharei-Kedoshim may hold the secret. In it we find both Torah readings of the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur. The first (read Yom Kippur morning) speaks of the awe-inspiring atmosphere that gripped the Jewish nation as they witnessed the Temple Service. Every soul was moved. The next part (read Yom Kippur afternoon) speaks of the most elementary and basic values of avoiding immoral marital relations.
It seems rather anti-climactic. To segue from an extraordinary transcendent experience to a rather obvious moral code of conduct. Couldn't we find anything more inspiring with which to conclude the most inspiring day of the year?
But that's exactly the point. Inspiration, whether induced from the Holy Temple or from a virus that brought the world to a stand-still, is all fleeting.
There's only one way to keep the benefits of inspiration flowing beyond the actual event. If, in the midst of the inspiring event, you think and take practical steps and commit to simple, yet concrete resolutions on how you will behave the day after. Make these resolutions enshrined in your daily schedule.
Act today to ensure you don't let your inspiration go to waste!