Become You! 

In this week's Torah portion, G-d tells Abraham "Lech lecho… me'artzecho u'mimolad'techo u'mibeis avicho" literally "Go for yourself (out of your land, your birthplace, your father's house)…"

Another translation would be 'Go to yourself - become yourself… '

Reb Zushe of Anipoli, a Chassidic Jew of yesteryear, said the following: When I get into the World to Come, I am not afraid that they will ask me, why did you not reach the level of our Father Abraham. I am not Abraham, I am not on his level, and I am not blessed with his talents and capabilities. I am afraid that they will ask me, why weren't you Zushe? Why didn't you achieve your potential? Why didn't you use your talents and capabilities?

Nobody is asking us to become what we are not. Each of us is different, each of us has our own individual character traits and talents, which make us the special person each of us is. Are we using them to the fullest? Are we getting the most out of them? Are we achieving our true potential?

The story is told of a very wealthy individual and a very strong, athletic individual.

The wealthy individual was walking one day when he passed by a family whose wagon had become stuck in a ditch. The rich man, being a kindly soul, wanted to help out. He tried his hand but was unable to budge the wagon. "I'm sorry", he said, "I'm not very good at physical stuff. I could help you out with some cash, if you need…."

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a poor family was about to be evicted from their home for failing to pay rent for months. The athletic gentleman was walking past and heard their anguished cries. He wanted to do something to help. He approached the family and asked what he could do to help. "We need money to pay our rent" they replied. "I'm sorry, I cannot help you with that. If it was a question of manual labor, I could help but…"

We can only do what is within our capabilities and our talents. We are not required to be 'somebody else' but rather to be 'ourselves' and fulfill our potential in the areas where we can.

All of us have things we always wanted to try our hand at but never got around to. Things we know we might be good at, whether it is in the area of study, of helping others, outdoor activities, social activities, whatever it may be. We cannot be good at everything - each of us is different, after all - but we can concentrate on the things we are good at, areas in which we have the ability to succeed and to excel. We can be ourselves, use our G-d-given talents to the fullest, and realize our own potential to the fullest. There are so many things we could do, so many things we never got round to making a start on. Why wait?