The Kotzker Rebbe: Avodah in the Moments We Avoid

Some people think avodah is in the big moments. But the greatest work is in the moments you’d rather skip.

Attribution printed on the image: Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Kotzk

A reflection on the teaching

A dramatic moment may feel like the natural setting for spiritual work. This saying points toward the ordinary moments we are tempted to hurry past. Waiting patiently, listening when tired or returning to a small commitment can ask more of us than an inspiring event. We do not need to make every inconvenience into a test. We can simply notice where avoidance is keeping us from a responsibility we value. Choose one such moment today and meet it a little more consciously. That is a workable place for avodah to begin.

Source note: The attribution above is transcribed from the image. The exact source and English wording have not been independently verified.