Are we here? Are we present?
Lessons learned from Ash Barty.
Ben Crowe, who is credited with recently helping our tennis world number one, Ashleigh Barty, break the 44-year drought for Aussie women at the Australian Open, said afterwards, “You saw it on court, Barty was so focused, clear and present …”
His words got me thinking “Am I here? Am I present?”
Now more than ever this is a difficult question to answer truthfully.
The intrusion – or near total takeover – of modern technology across so many mediums, swallowing countless hours each day for so many has been deemed out of control by social researchers. It’s no wonder the demand for mindset coaches has been on the up and up.
Are we here? Are we present? The honest answer is … so often, that is simply not the case.
This week we read of the final events that took place at Sinai leading to receipt of the second tablets. Earlier, in parashat Mishpatim we read that after giving the Ten Commandments, God invited Moses to sojourn back up the mountain so he could essentially have a series of private tutoring sessions explaining it all.
God said to Moses: “Aley eylai ha-harah – come up to Me on the mountain.” At first glance this physical directive is self-explanatory. Intriguingly, God then added the following: “v’heyei sham – and be there.” Appreciating that there are no superfluous additions within our timeless holy and moral compass, why is this included? Obviously if he is on the mountain, he would be there.
Many explanations abound, but right now in the 21st century I think these words have a deeper meaning. God instructed Moses: ascend the mountain and leave your (metaphorical) mobile phone behind. When you are there, I need you to be present and not distracted!
Last year, Australians spent an average of almost 1500 hours on their phones. Many lament that this veritable addiction to smart phones is a teenage problem. Many think it is solely an addiction for our youth alone! Not so. We are all implicated.
It is so revealing that a major complaint of children these days is that their parents are on their phones too much and are not really present with them. We parents are often “there” but not here – not present.
When I was younger, David Williams was one of the great NFL pro football players on the American national radar. I will never forget when his wife gave birth to their first child on a day his team was scheduled to play its biggest game of the year. He was contracted as the offensive lineman, yet her contractions were a bigger pull and he opted to be present for the birth.
The Houston Oilers management fined him $125,000 for missing the game. A media storm ensued. A reporter asked, “If you had known about this fine, would you have still missed the game?” His answer: “Of course, isn’t family what the money’s for?”
Dave Williams knew that being a football player is what he does for a living, being a husband and father is what he is. And as a husband and father, it requires “V’heyei sham”. It required his complete presence.
Modern mindset coaches, such as Ben Crowe were right. To help Ash Barty lift that trophy, she needed to be “focused, clear and present”.
Then and now, as Moses was with God on Mount Sinai, let us resolve to be present – V’heyei sham.
And with that, it will be a biblical game, set and match every time – guaranteed!
Levi Wolff is senior rabbi of the Central Shule, Sydney.
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