Golden Rules

This month, it appears that Rabbi Wayne gives us a break from the deep and heavy pieces we have been challenged with over the last several months. 

These are just two of the hundreds of beautiful little “stories” that fill his exquisite book, Golden Rules: The Ten Ethical Values Parents Need to Teach Their Children. Although it was published 21 years ago, it remains a shining jewel — simply written and deeply profound — a continuously lovely gift for parents and their children, together. 

I think it only “appears” that the stories we are being offered this month are “light and airy.” They are sweetly written for the heart of the child in each of us — yet speak to the most significant and deeply compelling issues we and our world wrestle with right now, every moment. 

Can we remember the Oneness, the Holiness, the Ever-Presence of the Divine? Can we remember that there is only Divine Purpose, and its Expression is the Oneness, of which we are? Can we co-create greater and greater Holiness simply by BEing of and in Divine Presence? Is there simply Goodness, Grace, and Blessing? 

It is in these questions that Rabbi Wayne lived his life. He never fully understood that he himself was the Blessing, that his very BEing brought healing and transformation. He always chastised himself for not DOing more, for not BEing better. And so he wrote, and his writing was always a prayer for his own healing and transformation. And in his journeying, perhaps we can recognize pieces of our own. 

Thank you -– always -– for allowing me to journey with you. It is an honor to travel with you!

Ellen, continuing the work of the Elijah Minyan

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Two Stories From

Golden Rules: Ten Ethical Values Parents Need To Teach Their Children

I.

The greater good is the good of each and every human being. Every individual act ripples deeply into the entire human community. Every communal act reflects back onto each individual.

A farmer, whose corn always took first prize at the state fair, always shared his best corn seeds with all the neighboring farmers.

When asked why, he said, “The wind picks up the pollen, and carries it from field to field. If my neighbors grow poor corn, the cross-pollination will bring down the quality of my corn. But, if they plant the very best seeds, then their corn and my corn will always be the most excellent quality. What is good for my neighbors is good for me.”

…whatever you do for others, you do for yourself.

II.

There was once a man whose life seemed filled with misfortune. Although he worked hard, he never had enough to eat, and in the winter, his threadbare clothes and flimsy hut were not enough to keep him from being very cold. And he was lonely, for he had few friends and no wife or children.

One day, the man said to himself, “Life is not fair to me. I am going off in search of God, to ask God to grant me good fortune. And so, he began his journey. On his way, he came upon a beautiful maiden. She asked, “Where are you going?”

He replied, “I am searching for God, to ask for good fortune.”

The beautiful maiden said, “Oh, what a wonderful idea! You see, I have this lovely home and this beautiful garden. I have all the food I want to eat, and fine clothes to wear. But, I have no husband to be my companion. Please ask God for good fortune for me too.”

The man promised to do as the maiden asked, and he continued on his way. It was not long before he came to one of the strangest looking trees he had ever seen. Even though it was planted right in the riverside, it was all dried up. The tree saw the man coming, and asked, “Where are you going?”

The man replied, “I am searching for God, to ask for good fortune.”

The tree said, “Oh, what a good idea. You see, I am planted right here by this gently flowing river, but my leaves never turn green – even in the springtime. Please ask God for good fortune for me too.”

“I certainly will,” said the man, and he continued on his journey. Before long, he came across a wolf sitting by the side of the road. The wolf asked, “Where are you going?”

The man said, “I am searching for God, to ask for good fortune.”

“What a marvelous idea!” said the wolf. “You see, I got lost from my pack, and now I am a lone wolf. I have no friends to play or hunt with. Please ask God for good fortune for me too.”

The man agreed to talk to God about the wolf and went on his way.

The search for God took many more days, but finally, the man found the place where God dwells.

He said, “God, my life has not been easy, so I have come to ask for good fortune for myself and for some friends I met along the way.”

God listened, and said, “My child, I am giving you the gift of Good Fortune. Go, use it wisely and well.” And God gave the man gifts for the maiden, the tree, and the wolf.

With happiness in his heart, the man began his journey home. First, he came upon the wolf, and said, “God has given me a gift for you. God says that one day soon, someone will come to talk to you right here, by the side of the road. This will be your new friend, who will play with you and hunt with you.”

The wolf said, “You! My new friend must be you. Stay here and be my friend.”

But the man said, “I would like to, but I have been given the gift of Good Fortune, and I must go seek my fortune.” And he left the wolf by the side of the road.

Next, the man came upon the tree, and said, “God has given me a gift for you. I am to tell you that the reason you are getting no water, is that beneath your roots is buried a treasure chest filled with gold. As soon as the treasure is dug up, water will begin to flow, and your leaves will be green again.”

“How wonderful!” said the tree. “Please dig up the treasure chest for me, and I will share all the gold with you.”

But the man said, “I would like to, but I have been given the gift of Good Fortune. I must go seek my fortune.” and he left the tree by the side of the river.

Almost home, the man came to the maiden’s house, and said, “God has given me a gift for you. God wants you to know that one day very soon, you will meet a man who will be your husband, and you will be very happy together.”

The maiden said, “It must be you. You are the man that God has sent. So stay and be my husband, and share my house and my garden with me.”

But the man said. “I would like to, but I have been given the gift of Good Fortune. I must go and seek my fortune.” and the man left and made his way home.

A year passed, and the man had not yet found good fortune. He decided to return to God and learn why the gift of Good Fortune had not come his way.

On his way, he met the maiden who was still not married. She decided to go with him, to ask God why her husband had not come. Together, they came to the tree, whose leaves were still brown and dry.

The tree said, “Take one of my branches with you on your journey to God, and ask why no one had come to dig up the treasure chest.”

Finally, they came to the wolf. who was still alone and lonely. The wolf decided to go on the journey to God, to find out why a friend had not yet appeared.

When they came to God, the man said, ”We do not understand. You gave me the gift of Good Fortune, but good fortune has not come. You told the wolf he would find a friend, but the friend has not appeared. You told the tree that water would flow when the treasure chest was dug up, but no one has come to dig. You told the maiden that soon she would be married, but no man has come to be her husband. Why God, why?”

And God laughed that sad little laugh that only God can laugh, and said, “My children, My children. Open your eyes, and look. See what you have been given. See what you already have. See what good fortune is right before you.”

And the man, the maiden, the tree branch, and the wolf finally understood, and quietly, but joyfully, said, 

“Thank you, God.”

“Thank you, God.”

“Thank you, God.”