The Mishkan contained a number of different kelim (furnishings), including a shulhan (table), two altars, and the aron . The Torah tells us the dimensions of each, in the unit of length called ama h: Aron : 2.5 amot long, 1.5 amah wide, 1.5 amah tall. Shulhan : 2 amot long, 1 amah wide, 1.5 amah tall. The outer altar: 5 amot long, 5 amot wide, 3 amot tall. The indoor altar: 1 amah long, 1 amah wide, 2 amot tall. If we look carefully at these dimensions, we will notice something unique about the shulhan – it is only one of the kelim whose dimensions are not all whole numbers or fractions. Its length and width are whole (2 X 1), but its height is a fraction – 1.5. The dimensions of the other kelim are all either one or the other. Why? One of the prophets, Habakuk (1:14), compared the human being to fish – ותעשה אדם כדגי הים . Rav Shlomo Alkabetz explains this analogy by noting that if one catches a large fish and opens it, he will see smaller fish in its stomach, as large fish eat small fish. Surprisingly, however, the small fish’s bodies are in the opposite direction of the large fish. We would have assumed that the small fish run away from the large fish, and are then caught, so their bodies should be facing the same direction as the large fish that devoured them. But when we cut open the large fish, we see the small fish facing the opposite direction, as though they swam right into the large fish’s mouth! The reason, Rav Alkabetz explained, is because the small fish indeed run away from the large fish – but just when they think they’ve escaped, another large fish appears, and the small fish swim right into its mouth…. We are like fish. At any given time, we have one or perhaps two “large fish” chasing after us, one or two problems which we desperately need to solve. And we think that once we get that one issue under control, then our lives will be perfect. But as soon as that problem is solved, right away we come across another… We are never fully in control of our lives, and this is something we need to learn to accept. So many people spend their lives waiting to have full control. They think, if they just made another $20,000 they will be happy. If they could just solve this problem with such-and-such child, or marry him or her off, then they will be happy. If they could just afford to fix such-and-such problem with the house, then they will be happy. But this doesn’t work. Because as soon as one problem is solved, another one pops up. We need to learn to be happy and content RIGHT NOW, with whatever we have and don’t have at this very moment. No matter how imperfect life is, we can experience joy and satisfaction. The shulhan – the table in the Mishkan , upon which special bread was placed – represents parnasah , our livelihood. The length and width of the shulhan were whole measurements, symbolizing to us that no matter what we have or don’t have, we should see our livelihood as being “whole,” feeling that we have everything we need. And the height of the shulhan is a fractional dimension to remind us that our material lives will never be perfect. It will never be “whole.” There will always be things missing – but that’s ok. We can feel happy and blessed despite not having everything we could want. The pasuk in Tehillim (57:3) says, אקרא לאלוקים עליון לקל גומר עלי - “I call out to G-d on high, to the G-d who completes for me.” We cannot do everything; we can only work hard to get the process started. It is then up to Hashem to complete it. So let’s stop trying to get control over everything in our lives, because this is impossible. Let us instead do what we can, recognize that there are problems that we cannot solve right now, and trust that Hashem gives us everything that we are supposed to have so we can enjoy a happy, blessed life right now.