Family Expectations
Parshat Pinchas
Imagine a multi-generational family owned and operated business. Everyone is involved and expected to take part in the family enterprise. Now, imagine the one kid who does not quite fit in. This child has other plans and aspirations in life. The familial pressure and sense of abandonment is no small matter.
This week's Parshah speaks about Pinchas, the son of Elazar and grandson of Aaron the high priest. They were a wonderful family with a great and thriving business. It was called the Kohen Enterprise. The only problem was, that Pinchas was not part of that venture. Not because he didn't want to, but rather, because by Hashem's law, only grandchildren born after Aaron's ascension to the priesthood would be born Kohanim. Pinchas who was already born, was the one son of a Kohen, and grandson of a Kohen, yet himself was not a Kohen.
It must have been very difficult for Pinchas not to be part of this most important part of his family life. He must have felt a sense of wanting to belong, a drive to define himself. The Torah tells us how he saw a terrible wrong and public desecration of G-d's name and he acted to uphold the honor of Hashem and the Jewish people. It was his defining moment. He was rewarded by Hashem with a gift "the covenant of peace" for all time.
We all have struggles in defining ourselves, what we want to do, and in what area we will be successful in. We have expectations and people we must live up to. Maybe its the family name. Perhaps its a positive thing or maybe these shackles are the very thing that wont let us explore new heights.
The lesson from this week's portion is simple yet empowering. Follow Hashem with sincerity and an open heart. Do what's right. Don't be defined by what your preconceived notions allow or don't allow you to do. Stop living in the past. Embrace the future by embracing the opportunities.
Shabbat Shalom
