Metzora

The first portion of Metzora is spent detailing the rituals for the diseased person at the time of cleansing, and the first part of this lists an extremely detailed procedure. Yet following these directives comes the line, "If, however, he is poor and his means are insufficient..."

Even biblically, not everyone can be judged equally nor held to the same standards. Allowances are made for each individual. This is something that I need to try to remember throughout life - to treat every person as their own self, without comparing them to others or trying to make them live up to each other.

And then again, I am trying to make my living in theatre. What is theatre, and what are auditions, but comparing people against each other? How can these two views be reconciled?

I resolve the dissonance thus: If two chefs were making me dinner, I could pick which I think tasted better. Thus are two actors giving me a product to judge (The fact that the product is their own self is subject matter for another day), and I am to give a professional opinion on that. I will judge their character, then, not in relation to each other, but against some standard that I have to create for myself. Unfair? Possibly. But do I judge myself on this same standard? I try to.


Everyone has different priorities and standards. This week, as I and friends bemoan the lack of people building on the lot, I need to remember that. I cannot expect everyone to suddenly pitch in effort for this one thing I see as important. Everyone is contributing in their own way, even if I can't see it just yet, and even if I think their priorities are trivial - it is theirs to decide. I can decide for me, and only me.

After all, if I am not for me... who will be?