Day 1: On Hearing a Siren
Rabbi Telushkin’s first day is dedicated to changing our
first reaction when we hear the siren of a fire truck, ambulance, or other
emergency vehicle. He points out that all too often, our reactions are those of
annoyance rather than prayer.
One of my teachers in high school pointed this out to our
class as well. He told us to imagine how different a place the world would be
if, during traffic reports on the radio, announcers told us to take a moment to
pray for those in need of the emergency vehicle. Our society would be much more
caring.
I have to admit, I cheated a little bit on this one. Years
ago, when I was first given this book, I read this section and it forever
changed the way I reacted to sirens. I changed the way I thought and for years
now, my first reaction when I hear a siren is “I hope everyone is okay” or “I
hope the people in need of that siren are safe.”
The feeling of stress associated with traffic jams caused by
fire trucks and police cars and the fear I used to feel when the start of a
siren would make me jump out of my skin, have melted away. I no longer think
of how the siren is impacting my life and my moment, instead I think of how the
siren will be helping someone else or saving someone else’s life.
"By accustoming ourselves to uttering a prayer at the very moment we feel unjustly annoyed, we become better, more loving people" (3).
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