The subtle thread of connection that exists between all things would remain unnoticed were it not for our deliberate attention. This attention is really the influence of the concentration of thoughts about a specific subject. This subject being our higher awareness then must begin to reveal with increasing effectiveness the deeper secrets of connection that now have the benefit of our expanding attention.
In order to keep on track with that expanding attention we need a way to guide our thoughts all along the way. In Kabbalah this unerring guide is called Torah which contains not only a map of Creation but also has built into the fabric of its substance the means for guiding our thoughts along the realms of holiness.
Torah acts as our guide by both direct and indirect vehicles of revelation. It acts directly by the narrative from week to week showing us subtle ways of understanding Hashem. Indirectly as we delve deeper into the heart of Torah we begin to find connections between the various parts including verses, words and phrases even down to the individual letters.
When we discover a connection within Torah it is as though we were making a similar connection within. There is what is known as a mirroring effect whereby our Consciousness imitates these connections and brings itself into a closer relationship with the above. All of this is taking place by the way of that expanding attention and is in fact its map of the inner worlds that are changing steadily as a result of these connections that we absorb while studying Torah.
An example of one these connections in Torah takes place in between when Israel leaves Egypt crosses over the Red Sea and is traveling along the way to Sinai. When they are camped at the mountain (Sinai) Yitro the priest of Midian comes to see Moshe.
Shemos 18:5. Now Moses' father in law, Jethro, and his [Moses'] sons and his wife came to Moses, to the desert where he was encamped, to the mountain of God.
The mountain is in sight and yet not close enough so that Moshe will be able to ascend. The appearance of Jethro or Yitro assums a much greater importance coming as it does just before the encounter at Sinai. A similar occurrence takes place when Moshe first ascends to another mountain also directly following or coming from Yitro.
Shemos 3:1. Moses was pasturing the flocks of Jethro, his father in law, the chief(priest) of Midian, and he led the flocks after the free pastureland, and he came to the mountain of God, to Horeb.
Yitro would appear to be a kind of intermediary between Moshe and his higher experiences. What Yitro does for Moshe is to focus his attention. When Yitro finds Moshe judging the people by himself he gives him the advice of appointing others of good standing to judge the minor matter so that Moshe will be free to judge the major issues. All of this is by way of focusing the efforts of Moshe on high.
What this teaches us is that our attention must be focused heavenward in order to perceive the Divine light. In this way when we focus that attention we are then able to ascend on high. The 'minor matters' have their place but must be delegated to another kind of attention that is superseded by our focus on high. B"H.
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