In this coming week's torah portion, Beshalach, we read of the Jew's journey from Egypt, particularly, about the splitting of the Red sea. The following is a photo essay I've composed exploring repetitious patterns in the built world.
What's the connection with the red sea? Well, I always imagined the sea (probably from pictures in children's torah books) as having these endlessly long walls of water. Perhaps these patterns in nature reflect those walls. Perhaps not.
What is the significance of patterns and redundancy in our own lives?
Enjoy!
We like redundancy; it allows us to go through each week without having to do much thinking. We have our Sunday schedules, our weekday schedules, and our Shabbat schedules that usually don't vary too much. And all of these together form our weekly schedule, a pattern.
ReplyDeleteLeading up to Beshalach, we see the pattern of Moshe and Aharon asking Paro to let the Jewish people leave Eretz Mitzrayim. HaShem hardens Paro's heart, he says no, and a plague falls upon the land. In Beshalach, we see a break in the pattern, when Paro agrees to let the Jewish people leave. The pattern then resumes with Paro's heart being hardened and him chasing after the Jewish people.
What is the significance of this? Most people go through their lives without much excitement. Sure, their lives may be exciting, but there isn't much variation in what they do on a daily basis. One thing we can take out of the parsha is that having breaks in the monotony of our lives can, in the long run, make us happier people. It is also important to note that among all of the patterns in our world are things that are random. All of the images you posted of patterns are man-made things, tangible things. But there are also tangible things in life that aren't composed of patterns. The branches of a tree don't grow evenly spaced from one another, the stars in the sky aren't arranged in a pattern like they are on the U.S. flag, clouds and mountains take random forms, etc. What do these all have in common? They are creations of HaShem! And while every day happens because of HaShem (afterall, He created the sun and moon), it is important for us to take some time out of our busy lives to admire all of His creations around us.
Justin- I'm super late reading your post, but that's beautiful! Big shkoiach.
ReplyDeleteI agree fully, and as you well know, I'm a huge fan of spontaneaity. I will add, however, that routine and structure is nice, if only for the chance to break out of it.
The crazy ironic beauty in nature is that the dendritic patterns of a leaf, tree root, river system, or snowflake may seem chaotic, but the result is far more strong and sustainable than anything us mortals could dream of creating.