“Everything you do is important to God”

-Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

When I was in college, my friends and I had a little saying: ” A hundred years from now, what difference will it make?” Back then we used the question as an excuse to have another drink, another hit of some banned substance, another sexual adventure, another moral lapse. Our message to ourselves was that our nasty little actions were of little consequence in the long scheme of things.

Thank G!D, I’ve grown since then. Now when I consider the same question, “A hundred years from now, what difference will it make?”, I think in terms of long term impact and leverage. How will my actions impact future generations, a world that I’ll never live into or see? How can I make a difference then by what I do now?

In that context, even little actions are potentially momentous. Over time, small changes can shift a long term trajectories, create whole new worlds. As a great actor once remarked; “There are no small roles.” Every little thing we do, and how we do it, is important to G!D, and the future.

What can I do today to make a difference in 100 years?

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Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 5, 1902 – June 12, 1994), known to many as the Rebbe, was a Russian Empire-born American Orthodox Jewish rabbi, and the last Lubavitcher Rebbe. He is considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century.

Joe Laur is a father, husband, naturalist, executive, consultant, and a lowly rabbinic student. Send him your favorite teaching quote for commentary. He can be reached at joe.laur@godsdog.net.