This Shabbat, we read from Parashat Vayeilech, which brings us to the conclusion of Moses’ life. After forty years of leading the people of Israel through the wilderness, Moses knows that his own journey is coming to an end. He speaks to all of Israel and says, “I am 120 years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Hashem has said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.’” Moses has reached the end of his earthly journey, but Israel’s journey continues. The people will cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land, continuing along the path Moses has led them toward.
There is something profoundly moving about that moment. None of us knows exactly how long our own journey will be or where it will ultimately lead. Yet each of us is traveling a road that began before us and will continue after us. We have inherited something from those who came before us, and we will leave something behind for those who come after us. We may not reach every destination we hoped to reach, but that does not mean our journey has been without purpose.
This Saturday night, many Jewish people around the world will gather for Leil Selichot, the traditional service that marks the beginning of the final preparation for Rosh Hashanah. The Days of Awe are almost upon us, and Selichot gives us an opportunity to pause along the road, look back at where we have been, and consider where we want to go next.
Like any journey, life requires some preparation before we set out. If we were taking a long road trip, we would have some idea of where we wanted to go, check the map, make sure the car was in good condition, and think about what we might need along the way. The journey of life is not so different.
A Map and a GPS
The first question is the most basic one: Where do you want to go? When we take a long trip, we usually have a destination in mind before we leave. We look at a map or put the address into our GPS and figure out the best way to get there. Life deserves the same kind of thoughtfulness. We need to consider not only what we hope to accomplish, but the kind of person we want to become. What kind of relationships do we want to have? What do we want our children and grandchildren to remember about us? What kind of relationship do we want to have with God?
Of course, life rarely follows the route we originally planned. We take wrong turns, circumstances change, and sometimes we discover that the destination we thought we wanted is no longer where we want to go. That is where the GPS becomes such a good metaphor. When we make a wrong turn, it does not tell us that the journey is over. It simply recalculates and gives us another route. There is something very Jewish about that idea. Teshuvah means turning or returning. Rosh Hashanah reminds us that a wrong turn does not have to become a permanent part of our journey. We can change direction and begin again.
Road Signs
It would be difficult to travel very far on a completely unmarked road. We need signs to tell us where we are, where we are going, and when it is time to turn. Life needs road signs as well. We need people who have traveled the road before us, people whose experience and wisdom can help us when the way becomes unfamiliar. Parents, grandparents, teachers, rabbis, mentors, and friends can all serve as guides, particularly when we find ourselves traveling through one of the darker stretches of the road.
Our Jewish tradition gives us many of those road signs. The Torah and the rest of Scripture remind us where we came from, who we are, and what God asks of us. For those of us who follow Yeshua, his life provides another important signpost. He showed us what it means to live a life centered on God, expressed through compassion, forgiveness, humility, courage, and love. When he called his disciples, he said, “Follow me.” Sometimes faith means knowing exactly where we are going. At other times, it means trusting the One who is leading us when we cannot see very far down the road.
Motor Oil
Before setting out on a long trip, we check the oil. It is hardly the most exciting part of preparing for a journey, but without it, the engine eventually wears down. Our lives need something similar. We need to make sure that we approach the journey with energy and enthusiasm. There is a wonderful Hebrew word, zerizut, which is often translated as alacrity, eagerness, or enthusiasm. It describes the attitude of approaching a task with energy and a willingness to act rather than waiting for the perfect moment or allowing ourselves to become weighed down by hesitation.
There are days when we feel inspired and ready to take on whatever lies ahead, but there are also days when the road seems long and the destination seems impossibly far away. Zerizut reminds us that how we begin can matter almost as much as where we are going. We should not simply go through life waiting to see what happens to us. We can approach each day with purpose, curiosity, and enthusiasm, ready to make the most of the opportunities God places before us. Like a well-maintained engine, that inner energy can help carry us through even the more difficult stretches of the road.
Emergency Kit, Spare Tire, and Jumper Cables
Anyone who has taken a long road trip knows that something can go wrong. A tire goes flat, a battery dies, the engine overheats, or a road that was supposed to be open turns out to be closed. We should not be surprised when life presents us with similar obstacles. Setbacks are not proof that we have failed. They are part of the journey, and what matters is how we respond to them.
That is why we carry an emergency kit. We anticipate that difficulties will come and try to prepare ourselves for them. More importantly, we learn not to allow one failure to become a permanent obstacle. We make mistakes. We disappoint people. We make poor decisions. Sometimes we work hard at something and still fail. But we can apologize, repair what we have damaged, turn around when we have taken a wrong road, and learn from our failures. Teshuvah reminds us that God gives us the possibility of returning. Our worst decision does not have to define the rest of our lives.
We see something similar in the way Yeshua treated people. He often looked beyond a person’s failures and saw the possibility of what that person could become. He offered forgiveness and a new beginning to people whom others had already written off. That is grace, and it is something every traveler needs.
Energy Bars
A long journey can be exhausting. Even when we are excited about where we are going, there are times when we simply run out of energy. A quick snack may seem like a small thing, but when we are tired and still have miles to travel, it can make a surprising difference. Our spiritual lives need nourishment in much the same way. We need faith and inspiration to renew our strength, along with prayer, Scripture, community, and the encouragement of people who remind us that we are not traveling alone.
Sometimes that nourishment comes from places we might not expect. It may be a kind word from a friend, a hug from a grandchild, a beautiful sunset, a song that touches something deep inside us, or a moment of unexpected kindness. I like to think of these moments as little winks from God. They may not be dramatic miracles, but they remind us that God is present in our lives. We do not always need a great revelation. Sometimes we simply need enough encouragement to take the next step.
A Cell Phone
Finally, there is one thing most of us would never think of leaving home without on a long trip: our cell phone. It keeps us connected. If something goes wrong, we can call someone. If we get lost, we can ask for directions. If we need help, we can reach out. The road of life should not be traveled alone.
God is not simply our destination. He is our companion along the way. We can call out to Him when we are frightened, confused, grateful, or simply in need of help. Sometimes our prayers are eloquent, and sometimes they are nothing more than, “God, help me.” But we can always make the call.
The Besorah reading for this week, Matthew 28:16-20, gives us a beautiful picture of this. After his resurrection, Yeshua sends his disciples out into the world. What strikes me about the passage is that his command to go is surrounded by two powerful affirmations. First, he tells them that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. Then he sends them out, followed by the promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The disciples are not sent out depending entirely upon their own strength or wisdom. The One who sends them has authority, and the One who sends them promises to be with them. For those of us who follow Yeshua, that promise belongs at the heart of our own journey as well. We may not know what lies around the next bend, but we know who walks with us.
The Road Ahead
As we stand at the beginning of another year, perhaps it is useful to think of ourselves as travelers. Moses’ journey reminds us that no earthly journey lasts forever, but it also reminds us that the journey does not end simply because one traveler reaches the end of his road. Moses could not cross the Jordan, but the people he had led would cross it. The work he had begun would continue. Much of what we do in our own lives becomes part of a journey that continues beyond us.
That is what makes this season so meaningful. Leil Selichot gives us an opportunity to pull off the road for a while and look at the map. We can think about where we have been, where we are now, and where we want to go. Perhaps we need to make a course correction. Perhaps there is something we need to repair. Perhaps we simply need to get moving again.
Whatever our situation, the road is still ahead of us. We do not know everything that lies along it, but we can prepare for the journey. We can watch for the signs, maintain the engine, carry the tools we need for the inevitable breakdowns, and find the nourishment that will keep us going. Most importantly, we can remember that we are not traveling alone.
As we enter this season of reflection and renewal, may we have the wisdom to recognize when we need to change direction, the courage to repair what we have broken, and the determination to keep moving forward. May we recognize God’s presence not only in the great moments of our lives, but also in those small winks of providence that give us strength along the way. And may the coming year be one of teshuvah, growth, faith, and inspiration.
L’shanah tovah u’metukah. May we all have a sweet, meaningful, and blessed New Year.