No one ever gains a thing by trying to be someone else. Indeed, it's a lose-lose situation; you'll never be the other person, and you'll lose out by not being yourself. Check out this original Lazer parable, which brings the point home:
Three dogs were hiking separately up in the mountains. Sudden high winds and a dangerous blizzard threatened their chances of safely returning home. Simultaneously, the reached a clearing. It was a bitterly cold day with poor visibility. The first dog, renown for his compassion and dedication in helping others, was a Saint Bernard with a small keg of rum around his neck. He said to the other two, "Greetings, my friends! You look very cold. Come have a sip of my rum. It will warm and replenish you. If you're still cold, you can cuddle up to me - my fur is very thick and warm. Please feel free."
The second dog, a Labrador Retriever and a trained guide dog with a wonderful disposition, profusely thanked the Saint Bernard for his kind offer. He then said, "Comrades, I implore you to stick with me. Between the flurrying snow and the mountain fog, one can barely see. It's easy to become disoriented and to lose direction. I have a very enhanced sense of direction. It's my job to guide others, especially those who can't see. Stay with me and be safe."
After the Saint Bernard and the Labrador Retriever introduced themselves, they turned to the third dog and asked, "Who are you, brother?"
The third dog appeared to be affronted by the two canine comrades calling him brother. "Can't they see my Grizzly Bear coat? Aren't they afraid that I'll pounce on them?" The Grizzly Bear costume was a little big on him, for he was only a domestic foxhound. But at $24.99 and alterations included, he couldn't pass up the deal. He cleared his throat and tried to growl like a Grizzly. Needless to say, the growl was nothing more than a weird bark. A hound simply cannot speak with a bear's accent...
Continue reading Who Am I? on this week's stimulating issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.
Also featured this week:
Rav Shalom Arush says that parents don't realize that their children's illnesses are liable to be the result of lack of love and lack of unity between them as husband and wife. Read all about it in Avi's Story.
Tal Rotem helps us turn the page on the unpleasant moments of life with Rebbe Nachman's teaching of Selective Amnesia.
Yael Karni discusses the inner dimension of the Hebrew alphabet in Divine Letters.
Dr. Zev Ballen says believe what you like, but Demons Don't Exist.
Dovber Halevi reflects on Emuna and the Job Search.
Racheli Reckles tries to make some sense out of an Opposite World.
Rivka Levy writes that being honest with yourself is the first stage of Coming Clean.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslev says that since emuna is above the stars, a person with emuna is above the stars. That means he's Above The Sun, which is a star.
This week's Torah portion is Yitro; Rabbi Dovid Charlop has some interesting thoughts about it in The Ten Commandments.
Have a wonderful week!
