I Focus, Therefore I Am

When I was little, I absorbed a basic principle: There’s an inverse relationship between the material and spiritual aspects of this world. You can’t excel in both. Choose your lane.

As I mentioned, I was young back then, so I probably saw the world without nuance. Or maybe I just lived in a place and time where it was clear which lane people had chosen. Those who prioritized ruchnius generally weren’t all that concerned with new clothing styles or decorating standards. Those who focused on gashmius didn’t seem to invest much time, thought, or energy in their learning or davening.

As I grew older, I saw more subtlety beyond those clear (and juvenile) demarcations. There was the class queen who consciously worked on her Shemoneh Esreh, inspiring us all to follow her lead. The local posek whose wife combined her role as a faithful supporter of his Torah with a decided flair and elegance that came to the fore every Shabbos and Yom Tov. The businessman who developed real mastery of Shas by delivering a daf yomi shiur.

Maybe the demarcations weren’t quite so firm. Maybe I was applying an overly simplified principle to a more sophisticated reality. Still, at its core, I sensed the idea was real. While there have always been singular individuals who managed to straddle exceptional achievement in multiple spheres, and while our nation has the unique capacity to elevate rather than shun the material, it seems basic that human beings immersed in worldly pleasures will have less time, brain space, and desire for holiness.