Tonight begins (or, at least it would be on the day I wrote this) the Seventh Day of Pesach (Passover). One of my favorites. No, not because this holiday of eating matza is almost over. And, I’ve already celebrated and exalted over the Freedom that the Supreme Being provided me, my family, my relatives, and my ancestors on the first days of the holiday.
No, it’s because today we read the Az YaShir, the Song at the Sea. Where the children of Israel were able to cross the Red Sea, which the winds (via the SB) parted for us, allowing us to cross to the other side. And, once we were though, the Egyptians and Pharoah in their mighty chariots continued chasing after us, but found themselves (the Egyptian horde) mired in the muck. (Notice, it was NOT dry land, but like the shores of beaches, a “sucky mess” that lets one walk across, but not traverse with laden chariots.) And, the SB commanded that the wind stop, so the waters returned, and the Egyptians drowned. Which led us to break into spontaneous song. A song that we recite each and every day to remind ourselves of this glorious event – and to thank the SB.
Just imagine. You are stuck between a body of water and a fully laden army with weapons and chariots (or tanks, if you want to make this a more modern scenario). Wondering what the heck you are going to do. (Can’t imagine this? Think of the citizens of Syria, in their cities, as the murderous guards are approaching them with tanks, intent upon their destruction.)
But, you know, we each have our own Mitzrayim. Not, not necessarily Egypt. But, Mitzrayim means ‘narrow straits’. A tough spot. One which we must negotiate. And, the questions arises, “How do we respond?”
Do we complain? Do we retreat? Do we just lie down and die? Or, are we like Nachshon (ben Aminadav)? Who stepped forward into the sea. First up to his ankles. Calling for others to follow him. Then, to his knees. Still pleading for the Israelites to cross to the other side. To his stomach. to his armpits. And, still saying- “Please, please come with me, we’ll be safe.” To his neck. When the waters begin to split. And, he is all of a sudden on land. He has made it through. So others may follow….
So, do you consider your options, make a plan, explain it to others, and proceed. or do you just say, nah, it’s too hard. Or lie down and give up? Or retreat.
How will YOU negotiate your narrow strait?
Wow! Great question. First I feel sorry for myself and have a pity party. Then I get mad and then I get stubborn. There are a lot of people out there smarter then I am but there are very few more stubborn and I just keep on walking, swimming and sputtering until I find my narrow strait.
Shawn recently posted..Personalities in a Marriage
Thanks for the comment- and the laugh as I considered the various responses you provided…
Keep on trucking, Shawn!
I’m too often at the shoreline, a few toes in.
Stuart Nager recently posted..One Man’s Ceiling… (#AtoZChallenge)
Come on in, Stuart… the water is fine!
And, who knows what changes that step can bring…
Roy, this is a beautiful post, and on many levels is what I write about for my people everyday. I shared it on FB, Twitter, and google.
It is a question we must ask ourselves at every sea we face, go in faith, or drown. Thank you for your posts, Roy, it’s posts like these that make me wish I could sit as a student and listen to you and your family and friends at the holy days, and Shabbat and learn.
Thank you. Oddly it goes with my post today, about a little girl standing at the edge of her own sea.
I noticed the comparison, too, Lisa!
And, thanks so much for you kind comments- and for reading the post in the first place…
Roy
This was a great post! I’ve been dealing with a few “tough spots” of my own the last two weeks and needed to read this.
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Amanda:
Thanks for your comment. I am pleased that it provided you with “food for thought”!. May your narrow straits expand to afford easy passage.
Roy
Roy, I love this! The moment of choice is where our power lies and living an empowered life comes from choosing action, not giving in.
Tambre Leighn/coaching by tambre recently posted..Start Where You Are…
Thanks, so much, for your comment, Tambre!
And, I am glad you enjoyed the piece.
Roy
I dive right in, Roy… I dive right in.
Wow, headfirst! That’s an impressive thought, PeggyLee!
Interesting that until someone stepped out in faith in your story, no one was willing to move. Believing is so much more powerful than seeing but we seem to forget that we need to believe first. Or as hubby says, we need to resign ourselves to get through the tough times
Roberta Budvietas recently posted..Stuck strategising?
Isn’t that the same thing a leader on a mission has, Roberta? Faith in his/her vision that will change the universe- or at least a small portion of it?
Well that is an awesome analogy Roy! We all have a choice and how we decide is important to any outcome. So it is certainly a good message to share … if you make a decision, stick with it, even if that means you decide to give up. They are all decisions based on our own needs, wants, troubles or doubts.
But to answer your question Roy …. I would never give up!
Lynn Brown recently posted..The Importance of a Positive Attitude
Glad to hear that, Lynn…
Except, if you find yourself up to your eyes- it may take another consideration or two!
Roy
I once read about a father who advised his young son, “If someone pushes you, you should always throw the first punch because you are already in a fight”. I do not condone fighting, but I do think this is an example of looking fear in the face and taking action.
Very good analogy, Roy!
Janette Fuller recently posted..Book Review: You’ll Never Guess Who’s Dying From Cancer
Thanks for those thoughts, Janette…
(By the way, in Texas and Florida, I bet they teach [to my great chagrin] to pull out your gun, shoot him, and claim self-defense!)
Roy, I really don’t know what I would do. If I had been one of the slaves, I would have been a giant chicken, as I had been taught to be. If I were the young mother I once was, I might have grabbed my child, put him on my back like we used to, and swim along porpoise style for as long as I could hold out. Now as a person with some wisdom and an occasional burst of nerve, I might have walked in thinking do or die. I have been watching Tony Robbins on TV and I hope he is wearing off on me.
Still I have to say that I would be hard pressed even in the midst of thanking the SB for sparing our lives to be joyful when so many souls were lost.
Imagine if we knew that if we were willing to try we knew that SB had prepared a way that we could do what he asked. I don’t mean believe or trust. I mean know for a fact. And it is a fact, even when we think we are drowning or even if we do indeed drown.
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Ann, I believe some of us do – even if we are wrong, who’s to prove it so?
Roy
(Loved the rest of the exposition, as well.)
This is what I call living your beliefs. I love how you make those beliefs your life’s reality, Roy.
I have negotiated many a narrow strait, and cannot imagine that I would lie down and take it. 🙂
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Love that spirit, Cathy.
The worst that can happen is the worst that can happen. Or, as the Marine credo says… “There are worse things than dying…”
Roy
A wonderful analogy Roy. I often have a hard time staying float emotionally, but I just get up and tap. Then I am brought back to balance within a short space of time. It is easier for some than others. It all depends on the neural pathways in the brain. The place I came from from negative and dark, hence very negative neural pathways were formed.
Thank god and I really mean that, that I was given a tool that produced such amazingly quick results.
Great post Roy. The versatility of your subject matter never ceases to amaze me.
Madonna
Madonna recently posted..5 Ways to Become Emotionally Stronger in Life
Thanks, so much, for your kind comments, Madonna.
I, too, am very thankful for the tools provided by Hashem to let me respond the way I do.
Roy