Take a leap of faith! - Shelach

I was recently reflecting on the last few years of my life and thinking about different moments when I feared doing something. For example, when I moved out of my parent's house and become an adult with responsibilities, or when I got married and was required to think about the survival of not just me but another human being.

In every life step, I was scared because it was a new change. I could not rely on the same support that I used to rely on, but through bravery, hard work, and the support around me, I managed the changes to thrive. This does not mean that I am no longer scared to do new things (quite the opposite) but that with my existing and new supports, I can learn to thrive in a new environment.

Earlier this morning, I was thinking about my decisions and asked myself, “What if I didn’t make the jump and just stayed living in my parent's home?” Imagine if my fear of change overruled my quest for accomplishment. In this week’s Parsha, we have a relatable experience. In the Parsha of Shelach, we read about the journey of the 12 spies to Jerusalem. Out of the 12 spies that were sent, two of them returned with positive feedback.

Imagine this scenario in your life. Throughout your childhood and adolescence, you live in your parent's home, and one day, an opportunity arises for you to move out, get a high-paying job and a nice apartment. When you check out the apartment, you realize that there will be monthly payments, responsibilities and that your mother won’t be there to cook your food. In my experience, I would have hesitated to make this new transition.

A similar situation occurred with the Jewish people in the wilderness. Ten leaders were sent to scout the land, but they began to worry. They feared that once they settled in the Promised Land, the daily miracles would end, and they would be left to independently navigate a completely new situation. Instead of embracing the challenges of change, they reported negative things to avoid them.

The lesson I took from this is that the fear of change is natural throughout life, but it should not hold us back from achieving our goals and dreams. We are being put into new situations to help us grow and become better people. By embracing the challenges of transition and having faith that everything will work out, we can enjoy the rewards when they come. The journey may be difficult, but the reward is often worth it. So, please join me as we try not to be afraid to take that leap of faith and embrace the opportunities that come our way.

Good Shabbos

All the best

Avroham Y Ross