Today’s vocabulary lesson is brought to you by the letter’s H and P, which could stand for Harry Potter, but for our purposes, stand for Hashgacha Pratis.

This lovely phrase means ‘Divine Providence.”

We believe Divine Providence to mean that Hashem runs this world, and that His hand is found in everything that occurs, from the wind blowing to the heel of your shoe breaking while you’re running late to catch a train…but also in things like the small, quiet, intimate moments that refocus us and remind us of the beauty of life. Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere. We sang it in day camp, and we keep singing it now.

Public Service Announcement: Hashgacha Pratis is not a cop out for showing up for your life. I repeat: Divine Providence does not mean that you should stand idly by and watch your life flip by like a tumbleweed. Hashem brought you here to be His able bodied partner, not  a scare crow walking around singing “If I Only Had a Brain.”

Yes, Hashem is running the world, and has a hand in everything that happens to you.

But (there is always a but). Hear me out, dears:

Hashgacha Pratis is in no way meant to replace or take away from our divine purpose and mission in this world.

To many, like myself, Hashgacha Pratis has become an excuse for not showing up for life. It’s definition has been altered from “Hashem is in control”, to a loose, hippy, ‘I can do anything and get away with anything because Hashem has got my back and I have no control over my life’ feel. And yes, that is true. Hashem has got your back. But, you still have to show up for your end of the bargain.

There is a difference in believing—and knowing—that Hashem runs the world to believing that because of this said fact, you should forfeit all control of your life and of any decision making whatsoever.

I’ve used Hashgacha Pratis as any excuse so many times that I’ve lost track. Missed you alarm? Yes, it’s hashgacha pratis, but it’s also an opportunity for you to check in with yourself and your actions.

Everything in this world is Hasghach Pratis, but it is equally an opportunity for you to learn in order to improve for the next time. Guess what? Hashem will send you the same test over and over again until you face it and deal.

Isn’t that something?

Show up. Be seen. Face your life. Take responsibility…and know that at every turn, Hashem has got your back.