Yellow Light, Red Light, 1-2-3
It was a typical, busy day, and I was driving back from some errands. Thankfully, the line at the bank wasn’t too long, and I was able to take care of the things that I needed to. Heading back to the office, though, I hit a red light. And then another. And then a third.
It seemed so unusual that each time I approached the light, it turned yellow, and then red as I pulled up to it. It’s like someone was trying to slow me down on purpose.
At the same time, as I was driving, I was getting text messages from someone who was venting about the difficult time he was having. He was harried and frazzled, and was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things he had to do, and the limited amount of time that he had to do them in. It is challenging to feel that way, and I knew I had to give him a listening ear as a release. Even if I wasn’t enjoying listening to it, I realized how important it was for him. Of course, it did serve to ratchet up my own frantic energy, even as I was running into all these obstacles on my end.
But nothing is by chance, and I knew there had to be a reason these yellow lights kept being sent my way. Maybe I simply needed to slow down. Don’t be in such a rush, because everything has a time and a place. Your frenetic running around will not make the big difference. Right now, you just have to pause and think about it. So I did.
Take a Break! God’s Running the World
I do know that Hashem (God) is in control, and I try to live that way. Sometimes, though, I think we get caught up in the urgency of life and actually think we are driving. But we’re not. At best, we are the copilots of our lives, at least when it comes to most things. We think everything is counting on us, but in truth, Hashem has it all under control.
When it comes to decisions about personal growth, those are in our control, because if it were up to Hashem, we could not get full reward since we didn’t decide to do the good things. He gives us discretion to choose properly because He wants us to want to serve Him, and those choices we make which help us in that endeavor are the important ones.
However, when it comes to things like work and physical needs, many of us forget that everything we are supposed to get was destined on Rosh Hashana. We don’t have to expend extra effort to get there, because it has already been written into the script.
Maybe that was the lesson of my hitting all those red lights in a row. Take a break, reflect, understand that all your running around may be overkill and unnecessary.
Different Lights, Same Message
On Chanukah, we know there is a great power in watching the candles burn. There are hidden secrets and spiritual strength to be gained from it. During the first half hour, women specifically do not work in the home. This is counter-intuitive because on Chanukah there is so much to be done! And that’s the point.
Maybe this is the message of the lights, both the traffic and the Chanukah ones: pause what you are doing, and see the miraculous hand of Hashem in your life. Take some time to slow down, and see if all of your running makes the difference. Could it be that things get done in their own time even without the pressure and anxiety?
Sit and Reflect and Watch the Miracles Unfold
When the Jews lit the pure oil they had, they did all they could. There was nothing else for them to do as it would take time to get pure oil. They sat back and waited. They watched to see what would happen, and then the miracles unfolded as Hashem made the oil last longer than they thought possible.
It seems to me that sometimes the miracle comes from seeing that Hashem is constantly doing miracles, and recognizing the constant kindnesses that He showers upon us. It requires taking that time for reflection so we realize how much He is always watching over us. (Who knows? Maybe that’s one reason we light in front of a window.)
The pause gives us an opportunity to see how things work out when we can’t find a way for them to do so. It gives us an opportunity to see the miraculous in the everyday. That’s some gift.
By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
Rabbi Gewirtz (Operation Inspiration) welcomes comments and feedback. Write to him at info@JewishSpeechWriter.com to share your thoughts. You never know when you may be the lamp that enlightens someone else.
