WHAT KIND OF ZEBRA ARE YOU?

BY RABBI CHANAN CHERNITSKY, DIRECTOR, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF NEWFOUNDLAND

A man visits the local zoo, and for the first time in his life, he sees a Zebra. In his innocence, he asks the Zebra the following question: “Are you white with black stripes or are you black with white stripes?”

I need to interrupt the story to let you know that this was no ordinary Zebra, because not only did the Zebra understand the question but the Zebra even responded.

This is what the Zebra told him: “Are you narcissistic, egoistic and self centred with some good habits or are you good with narcissistic, egoistic and self centred habits?” Good question.

Have you ever asked yourself this question?

Perhaps you have asked this question, albeit a bit differently:”Is the world good but bad things happen or is the world bad and good things happen”.

This is an easy one.Really. Just look around you.

No need to open holy books and get into philosophical debates.

You see a world full of colour. Full of life. Full of growing plants and flowers.

Obviously the world “is good”! The world is good and we need to retrain ourselves to interpret positively whatever happens to us in our lives.

I recently saw how Maimonides makes this point in his Guide for the Perplexed called Moreh Nevuchim. He writes that people often lose sight of the big picture of life because of their personal suffering or misfortune (G-d forbid) and they paint life and the world as a whole with the same brush.

Neuroscientists discovered that negative events make a stronger mark in our brain, to help us avoid dangerous and uncomfortable situations. Not so with positive and happy events.

Practically speaking? We need to make a conscious effort to be positive for us to lead positive lives and have a positive attitude or it won’t happen by itself.

Just take a few minutes every day to count your blessings and notice the beautiful world around you.

You woke up today? Do you have a family? Do you have a roof over your head?

But what about our friend who visited the zoo?

The answer is the same.

We are intrinsically good and holy but we get distracted and sometimes our intrinsic goodness is covered in dirt.

Instead of focusing on the dirt, the flaws, etc. in your spouse, sibling, boss or anyone else, look beyond the trappings, look beyond the surface and focus on that person’s positive qualities. Everybody has them.

We need to take the time to look for them and make a conscious effort to focus on the good.

Focusing on the good and having positive anticipation are the vessels for the Divine blessing.

Have a healthy summer!