The story of Noah must be one of the most fascinating and yet baffling tales known in all sacred literature. Can you imagine how Noah and his family must have been mocked by the people around whom they lived? But no matter what, they kept on building that giant boat. The people belittled their labors, laughed at them, and insulted them. Jewish legend recounts that Noah insisted on working on the ark right in front of everyone, hoping that somehow, by making a public attraction of it, even his own personal humiliation, his neighbors would be moved to repent.

According to the Talmud, the preparations for building the ark lasted a full 50 years. Fifty years of mockery, and yet 50 years was plenty of time for complacent, stupid, selfish, conceited people to wake up, to mend their ways, and to get their ethical act together.

Despite their fierce ridicule, Noah did not respond with anger or bitterness. He was always even-tempered and quietly set an example as to how they could and should clean up their ways and behave honorably. By his actions and manner, Noah seemed to urge his neighbors-"Don't waste a minute. Start now!"

You see, Noah had heard nothing from God that the others hadn't also heard. God's warnings of displeasure were issued to everyone. What was special, then, about Noah was that he alone turned his awareness into action. He acted upon God's will for all of life. "Don't waste a minute. Start now!"

But wouldn't you think that when Noah left the ark, he must have left it a far different person? I mean, imagine what he felt as he walked ashore and discovered that empty, devastated land. He must have looked for familiar ground, for vantage points, landmarks and cities, familiar neighborhoods. But everything had changed! And as with all of us when we are presented with such radical change in our lives, Noah was given a clear-cut choice: receive all of this change with anger or with gratitude. Noah chose to be grateful. So he offered thanks to heaven for having been spared.

Then there is that beautiful rainbow in the sky. A sign from God, that God will never again bring about complete destruction. Noah trusts his God, but as he looks at the people around him, he can't help wondering-

What God promises He will never again do, these people may very well do themselves. God will not destroy them, but they could well destroy themselves.

The rainbow covenant binds only God, not men and women. "I will not destroy the world," God said. In other words: I will not, but I don't know about you!

We're all in the same boat, aren't we? That's the underlying lesson here. We have no one to depend upon but one another. Could it be more obvious following the September tragedy and the continuing anthrax scare?

There are times when we need to reinforce our belief that there is nothing more important to do in life than to be a trustworthy friend to others.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I know how to be a friend to another?
• Am I loyal when others belittle or insult the people I claim to hold as my friends?
• Am I able to resist the temptation to gossip about others or destroy another's reputation by casting them unfairly in a poor light?
• Am I a big enough person to give honest advice to my friends and not be hurtful?
• Am I big enough not to care whether or not my friend wears a designer shirt or the most stylish dress, but to concentrate instead on the most important things like a person's character, kindness, decency, and truthfulness?

Ultimately the lesson for us is one of greater caring and larger kindness for others. We're all in the same boat now and your destiny is bound up with mine, and the security of those in the suburbs is really no greater than that of those in the public housing projects, and the future success and dignity of those who enjoy private school education may very well depend someday upon those children making their uncertain way in the miserable, termite-ridden inner-city schools of every urban center of America today.

We're in the same boat, yes we are, and the world is only getting smaller and smaller and smaller. There is really no escaping our duty to others. There is nowhere to turn away from our responsibilities to one another. Don't let it overwhelm you. The future is manageable. Take it day by day.

But begin by being a friend. Learn to be a reliable, forgiving, conscientious, and thoughtful friend to others. Strive to make your Creator proud. "Don't waste a moment. Start now." It was good advice in Noah's day. It's not a bad idea in our own!