God does not want us to divert our eyes from sickness and poverty.
Rather He wants us to see them and act against them – not to earn “points” on a Heavenly slate, but because Heaven tells us that this is our job.
We may not be able to do everything, but we must do something.
This concept of “Eyes to Earth, Heart to Heaven” connects Heaven and earth, dream and reality, eternal ideals and tangible actions. We must go beyond merely contemplating this idea.
It has to become a guiding principle in the way we conduct our lives, emotionally and practically.
We must develop the ability to think and care about exalted heavenly subjects without neglecting their connection to reality, even when we cannot reach the heavenly ideal.
–Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz