LINEAGE
Timeless wisdom lived through fatherhood
DAILY PRACTICE
TIKKUM OLAM
Rectification Of The Universe
Story
I remember walking through a park with my grandfather. Dry desert ground and late afternoon. Near the path, there was a piece of trash crumpled, out of place. He stopped. Bent down. It wasn’t a quick movement. He shifted his weight, placed one hand on his thigh, his knees were stiff and then he picked it up. Kept walking with it in his hand until we found a place to throw it away.
I asked him why. It wasn’t ours. He looked at me and said, “if we walk past things like this, we take care of them, our surroundings becomes better for everyone.” Then we kept walking.
Years later, clothes left in the hallway. Shoes by the door. Something spilled on the table.
The kind of small things that sit there… and start to bother you more than they should. I felt the option. Walk past it. Leave it. I picked up one thing. Left the rest.
A few seconds later, my daughter moved toward what was still out of place. We finished it together. Some people think responsibility starts when something belongs to them. In Jewish tradition, Tikkun Olam points to something…it’s participation.
Repairing what is within your reach, not overextending yourself whether you caused it or not. Small actions, repeated, that bring order into the chaos.
Shift
Responsibility begins the moment you stop walking past it.
Action (Today, With Your Children)
Today, in your home:
Restore one small thing that’s out of place without calling attention to it.
If something spills or breaks, handle it calmly, without reaction.
Invite your children, let them participate and to help restore the space.
Putting toys, clothes, stuff back where they belong together.
Cleaning a spill without blame. Organizing something that was neglected.
Your children see that caring for the home is part of caring for the family.
You’re receiving this as part of a daily fatherhood practice
Thank you for being here
PASS IT FORWARD
They can suscribe and obtain this daily