The Rising Life by Rochie Pinson

Author:Rochie Pinson [Pinson, Rochie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780989007214
Publisher: Orly Press
Published: 2015-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

R I S I N G

“YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES;

YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP OVERFLOWS.”

—TEHILLIM 23:5

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T H E I N G R E D I E N T S : O I L

Oil

The Jewish tradition is rich with references to oil, particularly the

wondrous olive oil, or EVOO as foodies have taken to calling it

these days.

Every day it seems there are new scientific revelations regard-

ing the benefits of olives and olive oil for health and wellbeing.

Heart health, skin benefits, immunity-boosting powers, and an-

ti-aging support are some of the most studied and widely cited

applications of the fruit of the olive tree.

The olive fruit is unique in that each fruit is borne of two flow-

ers. This seems to allude to the two life forces that enliven each

of us –both the spiritual and the physical – which we must each

possess for life to occur.

Oil itself is a unique substance. It spreads itself and moist-

ens all it comes in contact with, imbuing all it touches with its

richness, yet it always remains separate, distinct, retaining its

unique characteristics.

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R I S I N G

There is a strong desire within us for sameness, to identify

ourselves with our surroundings by recognizing the things we

have in common. This is a very human characteristic, and a par-

ticularly feminine trait, as well.

Often referred to as the herd mentality, it seems we have a

strong need to follow the direction of others, both male and fe-

male, of the human race. Professor Krause, with PhD student

John Dyer, conducted a series of experiments1 in which groups of

people were asked to walk randomly around a large hall. Only a

select few within the group received detailed information about

where they were going. All those in the experiment were not al-

lowed to communicate with each other and had to stay within

arm’s length of another person. The published findings showed

that “In all cases, the informed individuals were followed by oth-

ers in the crowd, forming a self-organizing, snake-like structure .

. . . In large crowds of 200 or more, five percent of the group was

enough to influence the direction in which it traveled.”

In other words, we are often only following a select few and

undervaluing our own perceptions, qualities, and capabilities,

thinking that “other people” know better. In a world where “di-

versity” is the catchall phrase, we often, surprisingly, forget to

honor our very own distinctiveness.

In nurturing others, and ourselves, we are charged with an

awesome responsibility to acknowledge uniqueness as worthy

of celebration.

The oil reminds us that by retaining our distinct characteris-

tics, we have great potential to enrich our surroundings, bring-

ing life and light to the world around us.

1 University of Leeds. “Sheep In Human Clothing: Scientists Reveal Our Flock

Mentality.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 February 2008.

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T H E I N G R E D I E N T S : O I L

Somehow, the opinions of friends, parents, school principals,

well-meaning grandmothers in the grocery store, and the ran-

dom guy at the checkout counter seem to crowd out our inher-

ent knowledge of our uniqueness and that of the ones we love

and nurture.

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