Positive Mitzvah 246: Laws of Claims
Exodus 22:8 "In every case of trespass...in which one can say: This is it"'

Ari and Izzy were playing ball on the lawn.

Suddenly, Ari felt his glove beginning to slip of his hand.

He shouted to Izzy to wait a second, but Izzy threw the ball anyway. It landed in the street sewer because Ari wasn't ready to catch it.

"Hey! I asked you to wait!" Ari yelled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," Izzy answered.

"Yes you did. I could tell! Now you've got to buy me a new ball!" Ari demanded.

"No I don't" Izzy protested.

In cases like these, where an argument arises and people disagree about who bears responsibility for a loss or damage, the Torah teaches us how to come to a fair decision.

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If you're serious about something, it has a fixed time. If you're earnest about getting something done and the phone rings, you ignore it. The spiritual side of your life is not a hobby nor a luxury -- it is your purpose of existence. When you are learning Torah, or meditating or in prayer, nothing else exists.

Your spiritual career should have at least equal priority to your worldly career.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com