Bridging Personality and Spirit.

In Poland some time ago, the story goes, there was a devoted rabbi who prayed many times a day. A flood came along and it was dangerous, but the rabbi felt sure there was no danger for him, for he was devoutly affiliated with God. The flood rose and it began to fill the first floor of his home. Rescuers warned him while he was still on the first floor, "Come, the flood is rising and it is dangerous." The rabbi waved them away, saying, "No! No need to worry, God will provide for me." They left. At a certain point the water rose so high that the rabbi went to the second floor. A rowboat came along and the rowers said to the rabbi, "Come, the waters are rising." "No. I am a holy man of God; God will provide." The flood rose, he went to the third floor and then finally to the roof. A helicopter came and over a loudspeaker they said, "Come, we will rescue you." The rabbi said, "No, I am a holy man of God. God will provide." The flood continued to rise and the rabbi drowned.

He went through the gates of Heaven and as he sat with God, the rabbi said, "God, I have been so holy and so devoted to You, why did You let me drown? Why did You not send help?" And God replied, "I sent you rescuers while you were on the first floor; then I sent you rescuers in a rowboat and I sent you rescuers in a helicopter. But you didn't listen to any of these!"

In this way, messages from God come not so much as manna from heaven or the parting of the Red Sea, but in the little things that seem mundane and coincidental.

I have so many times been pulled back from the edge of a cliff. I had gotten there by my own foolish actions, and there must have been a delegate of God, a guardian angel helping me in these most unlikely situations. Look back, too, at the events of World War II, when England stood alone against the Nazi war machine. Foolish and unlikely decisions by Hitler and Goering allowed the war to turn around. These improbable decisions by the Nazi leaders were, I believe, an intervention by God, a message. But they were delivered in such a way that we humans called them coincidence.

"When two or more call upon my name," said Jesus, "I shall be there." And how often must this be true in the helping acts of one human being to another: the good counseling; the good psychotherapy where patient and counselor are joined at the soul level in the delivery of a better person. The better person is a holier person and nearer to God. It is in the little things that God reveals His presence. By ignorance we cover up these precious messages.

Contrast this, if you will, with another story, a joke, but it reveals a truth: An IRS agent visited Rabbi Simon Neuman. In very serious tones he said, "Do you have a Sidney Cohen in your congregation, Rabbi?" The Rabbi looked serious and spoke a profound, "Yehhs." "And is Mr. Cohen a regular member of your congregation?" The Rabbi replied, "Yehhs." "And does Mr. Cohen sit on your Board?" Again a profound "Yehhs." "And did he make a contribution of $10,000?" The Rabbi looked seriously at the agent and replied --- "He will."

Contrast these two stories. The flood victim was too much in the sky - not rooted enough in the affairs of the earth. The rabbi visited by the IRS agent symbolizes a kind of religious practicality which pays too much attention to the affairs of the world. As always - the secret of the Truth lies in balance. It is not enough to retreat to a mountain or to keep your mind on God in the sky. Nor is it enough, or even proper, to think of God through materialistic ways, or to throw a robe of piety over money preoccupations. But it is right that we live in this world in a practical way, and in that practicality turn toward God with our heart turned toward heaven as we are carrying on the affairs of life. And - when turning our heart thusly toward heaven, to act in the service of the heart, joining our fellow creatures in bringing love and service and holiness to all on earth.

Maurie D. Pressman, M.D. is the author of Enter the Supermind and co-author (with Patricia Joudry) of Twin Souls: A Guide to Finding Your True Spiritual Partner.


		by Maurie D. Pressman, M.D. Don't Overlook God's Messages It is in the little things that God reveals His presence. Messages from God come not so much as manna from heaven or the parting of the Red Sea, but in the little things that seem mundane and coincidental. In Poland some time ago, the story goes, there was a devoted rabbi who prayed many times a day. A flood came along and it was dangerous, but the rabbi felt sure there was no danger for him, for he was devoutly affiliated with God. The flood rose and it began to fill the first floor of his home. Rescuers warned him while he was still on the first floor, "Come, the flood is rising and it is dangerous." The rabbi waved them away, saying, "No! No need to worry, God will provide for me." They left. At a certain point the water rose so high that the rabbi went to the second floor. A rowboat came along and the rowers said to the rabbi, "Come, the waters are rising." "No. I am a holy man of God; God will provide." The flood rose, he went to the third floor and then finally to the roof. A helicopter came and over a loudspeaker they said, "Come, we will rescue you." The rabbi said, "No, I am a holy man of God. God will provide." The flood continued to rise and the rabbi drowned. He went through the gates of Heaven and as he sat with God, the rabbi said, "God, I have been so holy and so devoted to You, why did You let me drown? Why did You not send help?" And God replied, "I sent you rescuers while you were on the first floor; then I sent you rescuers in a rowboat and I sent you rescuers in a helicopter. But you didn't listen to any of these!" In this way, messages from God come not so much as manna from heaven or the parting of the Red Sea, but in the little things that seem mundane and coincidental. I have so many times been pulled back from the edge of a cliff. I had gotten there by my own foolish actions, and there must have been a delegate of God, a guardian angel helping me in these most unlikely situations. Look back, too, at the events of World War II, when England stood alone against the Nazi war machine. Foolish and unlikely decisions by Hitler and Goering allowed the war to turn around. These improbable decisions by the Nazi leaders were, I believe, an intervention by God, a message. But they were delivered in such a way that we humans called them coincidence. "When two or more call upon my name," said Jesus, "I shall be there." And how often must this be true in the helping acts of one human being to another: the good counseling; the good psychotherapy where patient and counselor are joined at the soul level in the delivery of a better person. The better person is a holier person and nearer to God. It is in the little things that God reveals His presence. By ignorance we cover up these precious messages. Contrast this, if you will, with another story, a joke, but it reveals a truth: An IRS agent visited Rabbi Simon Neuman. In very serious tones he said, "Do you have a Sidney Cohen in your congregation, Rabbi?" The Rabbi looked serious and spoke a profound, "Yehhs." "And is Mr. Cohen a regular member of your congregation?" The Rabbi replied, "Yehhs." "And does Mr. Cohen sit on your Board?" Again a profound "Yehhs." "And did he make a contribution of $10,000?" The Rabbi looked seriously at the agent and replied --- "He will." Contrast these two stories. The flood victim was too much in the sky - not rooted enough in the affairs of the earth. The rabbi visited by the IRS agent symbolizes a kind of religious practicality which pays too much attention to the affairs of the world. As always - the secret of the Truth lies in balance. It is not enough to retreat to a mountain or to keep your mind on God in the sky. Nor is it enough, or even proper, to think of God through materialistic ways, or to throw a robe of piety over money preoccupations. But it is right that we live in this world in a practical way, and in that practicality turn toward God with our heart turned toward heaven as we are carrying on the affairs of life. And - when turning our heart thusly toward heaven, to act in the service of the heart, joining our fellow creatures in bringing love and service and holiness to all on earth. Maurie D. Pressman, M.D. is the author of Enter the Supermind and co-author (with Patricia Joudry) of Twin Souls: A Guide to Finding Your True Spiritual Partner. Dr. Pressman is Emeritus Chairman of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Temple University Health Sciences Center. He is Medical Director at the Center for Psychiatric Wellness, clinics that operate in Philadelphia and Haddonfield, N.J. These clinics bridge traditional and spiritual psychotherapy. Dr. Pressman can be reached at 200 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106; telephone 215-922-0204; fax 215-922-3008; Email: mauriedavid@earthlink.net; web: www.mauriepressman.com.