Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

What We Achieve Matters Less Than Who We Become—and How Deeply We Connect to the Creator

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Man is created b’tzelem Elokim—in the image of G-d. He carries within him a soul, a spark from above that no microscope can see and no scientist can measure. This soul did not come from physical matter. It is eternal. It is Divine.

And yet, man is born into this world without knowledge of the beginning and without sight of the end. He arrives midstream, unaware of the full plan. He opens his eyes and begins to seek: Why am I here? What is my purpose?

Some people become extremely successful. Others never seem to catch a break. Some are gifted athletes. Others struggle to climb stairs. Some amass great fortunes. Others live with barely enough. But one truth is universal: no matter how high a person rises in the physical world, the satisfaction never lasts. Every accomplishment is followed by a question: What now? Where to next?

Success, fame, wealth—they give fleeting joy. But they don’t fill the soul. And that’s the key: the soul isn’t fed by external victories. It’s fed by truth. It’s fed by connection.

The real purpose of life is not physical acquisition. It is not applause, awards, or even happiness in the conventional sense. The real purpose is connection—to G-d, to the Creator, to the source of all being. That’s what the soul longs for. That’s what gives meaning to every moment, whether glorious or mundane.

Jews, by virtue of Torah, are blessed with a direct path. The Torah is more than a book—it is a Divine blueprint for life. It tells us what G-d wants from us, how we are meant to live, and why we are here. When a Jew lives by the Torah, he doesn’t need to chase purpose. He lives it.

And the nations of the world? They too can seek and find truth. Through the universal moral code known as the Seven Noahide Laws, every person can attach themselves to G-d, live a righteous life, and fulfill their purpose.

But let’s be honest: the world today doesn’t talk about this. It glorifies self-expression, careerism, indulgence, and endless achievement. Yet people are more anxious, depressed, and confused than ever before. Why? Because the soul is starving.

Until a person looks upward instead of outward, until he searches inward rather than chasing outward status, he will never feel at peace. Because the soul was not made to succeed in the material world—it was made to connect with the Infinite.

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The Ramban’s Perspective: Worldly Rewards Are Not the Goal

This idea is beautifully echoed in the writings of the Ramban.

In his commentary on Vayikra 26:3–13 and Devarim 28:1–14—two chapters in which the Torah outlines the great rewards promised to those who keep its commandments—Ramban makes a striking observation.

The Torah lists rewards like wealth, peace, victory over enemies, abundant crops, and general physical success. One would expect that those who serve G-d faithfully should be rewarded with spiritual bliss, closeness to the Divine, and eternal life in the World to Come. Yet, the Torah makes almost no mention of those things here.

Why?

> “Spiritual reward is so obvious that the Torah doesn’t need to mention it. Of course a tzaddik receives his reward in the World to Come—what could be more certain? But what is surprising, what is a miracle, is when greatness in Torah and mitzvos results in this-worldly success. That’s why the Torah emphasizes physical blessings in these verses—because it’s a chesed, a kindness and a miracle, when sacred conduct brings material prosperity.”

This is a deep message for anyone working in the business world. Your physical efforts are necessary—they are the keilim, the vessels. But the blessing doesn’t come from your cleverness or strength. It comes from Above. Spiritual growth is the main project. Business is just the arena.

Even so-called “natural events”—profit margins, deals closing, contracts signed—are miracles in disguise, as Ramban points out. The Torah doesn’t promise spiritual rewards—they’re assumed. What it does emphasize is that G-d sometimes grants success even in the material world as a sign of His kindness and presence.

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Conclusion: Redefining Success

To live a life of meaning is not to accumulate more—it is to connect deeper. To rise higher, not in the eyes of men, but in the eyes of G-d.

That’s the truth Scotty Schaefer reminds us of: The goal of life is not to be admired—but to be aligned. Not to impress—but to attach. Not to dominate—but to submit.

Let us live lives of depth. Let us build from the inside out. Let us remember that true success cannot be measured—it can only be felt, in the stillness of a soul that knows it is walking with G-d.