Third and Final Installment of Living With a Conscience

This discussion I plan on bringing together for my "Devar Torah" before we begin the Pesach Seder at my home this year. I want to bring in a discussion of counting the Omer. I will discuss the practice of using the 7 emotions and practicing them. The link that I provide is from Aish.com However I chose them because I liked their layout and explanation the best. I do not feel that you need to be Orthodox to practice this. I see it as a tool to make us better people. For those of us with a conscience I think that it is something that needs to be nurtured. Judaism has many ways of doing this but counting the Omer is in my opinion a perfect fit and it is coming up so I thought it is a chance to discuss it and tie it in with what is going on in my mind.

Mirrium II Dancing and Full of Hope

My childhood was laced with missed opportunities to help me. Yet there were a few adults that attempted and even succeeded to intervene and made small but significant differences in my often sorry life. What was different between those individuals that wanted to help me and the others that knew but couldn't bring themselves to interfere. Were they asleep? I know sometimes you need to function, sometimes you need to get the job done. 
For instance; I know using fossil fuels are bad but we must get to work, bring in groceries and etc. So when can we put our conscience to rest and when do we need it. Can we develop an awareness of who we are and set the boundaries? Can we learn to use the car less and plenish the Earth in other ways. Perhaps support industries that are "Green". The point is there are times where we need to rest our moral thought in order to function. Maybe put it on a low light. The problem is that we forget it is there or worst we are afraid to use it. We just go to sleep morally. People don't realize that they can and must use the conscience it is what makes a difference. The other issue is having the personal strength. Sometimes we cannot bring ourselves to do what is right. 
Sadly, my mother had the personal strength. She never  considered the other person's feelings at all. I remember her getting in arguments with people at restaurants and retail stores. She would file a complaint then return in a few days to see if that person still worked there. If so she would go to management and demand answers. A typical statement was; "I will not rest until this person is fired". Often it was something trivial that she wished to cause such harm in someone's life. She claimed it was principles put I am definitely sure that it was the lack of them. But one thing is for sure she was empowered. 
That is what I wish for the rest of us. To be empowered to do the right thing. It can be difficult if you know of a child at risk, it can be considered interfering yet we must do it. What about a co-worker getting the blame unfairly, what about helping someone looking for a job. Can we go to our employer and help that person get that position. I know there are times when we can't or shouldn't, yet most of times they are missed opportunities to help out.
I suggest that we use this year counting of the Omer to empower ourselves. 
For myself every time I do a Tikkun or work on my conscience I am taking baby steps forward in the world of damage that my mother and others like her have caused.
Going back to my original statement, no I don't yet understand why most of us care so much about each other. However, yes I am glad that we do and I embrace it. I also plan on using this period for a self Tikkun. That way I hope I will be empowered to continue do help others when I see an opportunity.
Finally I would like to leave you with one of my favorite quotes form our Jewish texts. Empowerment is being for ourselves and of course the rest will be easier.

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

 If I am only for myself, what am I? 

 If not now, when?” 

Pirki Avot, 1:14, Hillel

Happy Passover!