As a Jew, I’m now in the midst of Days of Awe, the 10 days between the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Repentance, Yom Kippur. During this time we are supposed to take an accounting of our sins and repent for them. However, I think the biggest sin of all is not living up to our human potential.
In Judaism, sins actually equate to missed targets. To sin means to “miss the mark” and the word, chet, comes from archery. We are trying during the year to hit a bull’s eye, and if we don’t, we ask for forgiveness–from God, from others, and from ourselves. In fact, no matter if we missed the mark with others or with others–or with God, it all comes down to sins against God. Ein od milvado, we are told. It’s all God.
To me, however, if we aren’t doing all we can do to fulfill our potential, to become the people we were sent here to earth to become, we commit the largest sin of all. We are all born with a purpose, a mission. We must learn, grow, reach…If we aren’t doing that, we sin against ourselves. Inside each and every one of us exists a spark of God–the soul. After all, we are created in the image of God. So, if we sin against ourselves, we sin against God. And not become all that we can be–our best self–we truly miss the mark. We do not hit the bull’s eye.
I’m most upset again this year by how I have missed the bull’s eye in this area. Again, I have not kept up a meditation practice. I have not read enough books. I have not take courses to further my education. I have not exercised. I have not written all the books I wanted to write. I have not kept up with my spiritual practice. I have not…I could go on. Yes, I have moved forward with large leaps and bounds this year in ways that allow me to reach my potential–I’ve hit some bull’s eyes. In other ways, I other areas I never picked up the bow or the arrow.
Now, we have our whole life to fulfill our potential. The question at this time of year for Jews–and at any time of the year for all people from any religious tradition–is have you done anything to practice hitting the target? Have you set a target, practiced aiming and actually let the arrow fly? And did you come close to hitting that bull’s eye? If you tried–practiced and shot–but missed, you will be forgiven. But you must have at least tried to live up to your potential.
And if not…there is still time to repent. And to set up new targets and start practicing and letting those arrows fly so you hit your bull’s eye in this lifetime-.-your full potential.
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