Q&A: Purpose in Life, Planning for the Future, or Flowing with Life
Purpose in Life, Planning for the Future, or Flowing with Life.
Question
Hello Rabbi!
Do you think that in Judaism there is a specific role and purpose for each person—that is, that from the outset God wanted a certain person to be a Torah scholar, or to fill some other role, etc.? And if so, is a person obligated to find it, and how?
When I studied in yeshiva, the spiritual supervisor spoke about the Talmudic passage that compares the Jewish people to a vineyard. Based on that, he argued that every person has a role, and he will be held accountable for not fulfilling that role, even if he was a good Jew. After that he argued that since everyone sitting in the room was a student in one of the more highly regarded yeshivot, it must be that they were meant to become Torah scholars. From what he said, it seems that aside from his believing there is a way to know what your purpose is, the way to know it is to see where life has led you. And from here to the next question…
Do you think a person should plan his life and push himself toward a certain role and status, or should he simply live life, let it lead him, always try to do the good in every situation, and take advantage of the opportunities that come his way, but not chase after them?
Answer
I tend toward the second direction, but that is a tendency, not knowledge. Just as the spiritual supervisor's position is a tendency, not knowledge. I don't think anyone can really know anything definite about this matter. My inclination is that a person should do what is good and best in the eyes of God and man, and it makes no difference by which path. So naturally he should choose the path that suits him. But there is no point in obsessively searching for the “right” path. Do what seems reasonable and suitable to you.
In any case, looking at where you are in life as a sign or message from Heaven borders on the Torah prohibition of divination—“Do not practice divination”—and “Be wholehearted with the Lord your God.” That is certainly not the criterion. The criterion is what seems to you to fit your talents and your character.
But you know, life led your spiritual supervisor to become a spiritual supervisor, and so he found the role meant for him in the way spiritual supervisors do. There is no need to get worked up over these slogans.
My first manager told me: “Wherever you are, try to be the best you can, so that when the next wave comes, it will carry you to a higher place.” One development of that idea is this: if you are in a certain place, don't try to think that some other place will give you success. Success is in the place where you are, so there's no point complaining or thinking that you're in a bad place. If you're there, there won't be a better place. So instead of chasing success, try to be good in the place where you are. Remember: the lessons from this place you won't get anywhere else.