Tens of millions of Americans work up this morning with their dreams shattered. Just yesterday we were all conjuring up images of what life would look like with 1.5 billion dollars: the mansions we would buy, kitchens we would decorate, and charity we would give…the vacations we would take and the cars we can only dream of…early retirement and living the beach life…eternal bliss and happiness… We could picture it all.
But now, our hopes are crushed and our dreams have evaporated into thin air. Yes, there were some lucky winners in California, Florida and Tennessee, but for the rest of us, life goes on as usual. We still have to deal with work, daily life, and the very same commitments we had yesterday. The struggle to make a living continues…
Our sages teach that we can live our entire lives enjoying all the world’s pleasures—that dream car, boat, vacation, beach house, etc.—but none of it rivals even one moment of pleasure in the World to Come. In fact, we have literally no idea what the true meaning of the word pleasure is!
True pleasure is the pleasure of the soul—spending time with the Divine. When we do a mitzvah, we unlock the ability to transcend and cleave to the all-mighty and infinite G-d—something which is far more valuable than 1.5 billion dollars. It is priceless.
This world is temporary. We spend 70-80 years here, and then we pass on. But the soul lives eternally, so it is the soul we must worry about. And the soul’s greatest pleasure is in connecting to G-d.
This Friday night, sit around the Shabbat table with your family and make Kiddush. Turn off your phones and computers and televisions for 24 hours and focus on family and spirituality. On Shabbat morning, go to your local synagogue and connect with G-d. Then you will have won the true lottery, worth much more than 1.5 billion dollars.
So dream on, my friends…dream on! You can still fulfill your dreams.