Chana and I have the good fortune of having fabulous friends! Point in case, this week we were gifted a special trip in honor of our ninth anniversary; four days on a cruise ship. Being on a cruise is truly an awesome experience. A mobile city, with sophistication second to none, set afloat upon the high seas.
It's interesting, nobody ever says that they're planning an airplane ride. Rather, they say that they're going to Italy or to Israel. The flight there is merely the means to the ends, the journey to the destination. Amazingly, when it comes to cruising, you rarely hear of the destination. Instead, people are simply 'going on a cruise'. Where you're headed is not nearly as important as how you're getting there!
How often do you find yourself holding your breath, refusing to enjoy life until you pass the next hurdle: an exam, an interview, a medical result, a promotion, a child, a relationship....you get the picture. So often, we are hyper focused on 'getting somewhere' only to suddenly begin hoping for the next big thing, subconsciously refusing to just stop and smell the roses.
That's why I love hearing people say that they're just going on a cruise: the emphasis is on the journey, not on the destination.
As a teenager, sitting for hours on my dentists chair as he worked on my teeth, I'd ponder the image on his wall that gently stated: 'Life is what happens to you in between all things that you plan'. Or as we say in Yiddish: 'A Mentsch tracht un G-t lacht'- 'Man plans and G-d laughs'
So chill out and take a cruise! If you can't do it from the Port of Miami, then do it from the comfort of your armchair. Stop taking yourself too seriously, take a deep breath and relax. Recognize that there is a G-d in the Heavens who has everything (somehow) under control and that all we can do is try our best, regardless of the actual outcome!
Wherever you're going, just remember to enjoy the ride.
And of course, having fabulous friends always makes for a better journey!
Wishing you as Shabbat of peace and purpose,
Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler