Where To Turn

When you’re overwhelmed or disappointed, consider the words of Mary Shelley, who, at age 19 wrote Frankenstein. “The starry sky, the sea, every sight afforded by these wonderful regions seems to have the power to elevate (the) soul from earth.” 

Nothing sutures a splintered-spirit like nature’s grandeur. It provides settings like the one where the sky and your soul are silent together. 

God knows we need such settings these days. Even more troubling than dark-disillusion that keeps cramming our newsfeeds, there’s the even-darker direction toward which things seem to be headed. 

This week’s portion of Torah introduces God’s covenant with Abraham. Covenants are so different from contracts. Contracts are about transactions. Covenants are about relationships. Contracts are about mutual interest. Covenants are about mutual integrity. This is why, as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once said, “contracts benefit, but covenants transform.” 

Earlier this week my wife Debbie and I watched the impressive new release of Frankenstein, in a local theater filled with viewers who were a similar age to Mary Shelley when she wrote the classic back in 1818. The monster is actually the least monstrous figure in the story.

Human nature hasn’t changed much since then. Indeed, since Abraham is told to go forth by the same God that you and I interact with today, over the past 4,000 years, times have changed a lot. But human nature hasn’t. 

Where can you turn at times like ours? Mary Shelley knew where. Biblical prophets did too. And it all started in this week’s portion.

“Then (in a vision) God took Abraham outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you’re able to count them, so numerous shall be your offspring” (Gen. 15:5). 

Some like to wish upon a star. For the sages, this is an idolatrous no-no. Instead we look to the starry sky and see our covenant. And, as we do, we prepare to be transformed.