The concept of reward and punishment is part and parcel of life. From the moment we’re old enough to understand it, we’re faced with choices. If we listen to our parents and teachers and cooperate with our bosses we’ll be rewarded in some appropriate manner; if not, we’ll have to face the music. This motivation enables us to overcome our inherent laziness to accomplish the task at hand.

This week’s portion discusses the idea of reward and punishment with regard to G-d and His Chosen Nation. When the Jews follow the Torah and its commandments, G-d bestows His blessings upon the Jewish People. If not, however, the Jews are forced into exile and hardships.

The Torah underscores something many would rather not have to think about: We are responsible for our actions, both positive and negative. It is easy take the credit for one’s achievements, but blame others for the shortcomings. But it’s not so. Ultimately, we are held accountable for everything we do.

While this may sound demanding, it is an important aspect of leading a fulfilling life. We don’t live in a vacuum. We have a specific goal to achieve, to live according the Torah’s teachings. Thus, every moment and every experience has meaning and contributes to the fulfillment of our personal mission.

I remember listening to a radio interview on 9/11, 2002, the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, with a brother of a firefighter who lost his life that day attempting to save people in the World Trade Center.

The anchor asked how the firefighter’s parents were coping with their tragic loss. He replied that they were coping as best as possible, adding that they were religious people, which helped them a lot. The fact that their son died while helping people was a tremendous source of comfort to them. They knew that he was being taken care of “upstairs” for his bravery. They couldn’t understand how non-believers who shared a similar loss were coping without that source of comfort to fall back on in the face of such a tragic incident. Their solace came from the recognition that their son had lived, and even died, with a sense of purpose and fulfillment of his destiny.

If we’re responsible to G-d, that means He feels responsible to us. Like any parent or any other authority figure, He looks after us, steers us in our direction in life and enables us to enjoy the great world He created. Every second of life, every breath that we take is essential to fulfilling the ultimate goal that we were created to achieve. As we internalize this concept, we will be better able to appreciate our lot in life and fulfill our G-d-given destiny to the best of our capabilities.