Walking Through Life
The Torah, which is believed to be written by Moses in 1312 BCE, is divided into 52 weekly chapters, which are read in the synagogues or in private, every Saturday. Last week’s chapter was called Lech Lecha (usually the title is the word or phrase in the beginning of the first sentence). It begins with God giving instructions to Abram: “Lech Lecha”. “The Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your land, from your relatives, and from your fathers’ house to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation.” (Genesis 12:1-2) The idea of walking appeared in the Torah before. After God created Earth and people started to populate it, one of them “Enoch walked with God for three hundred years after begotten Methuselah” (Genesis 5:22). And in the next chapter “Noah was righteous man, perfect in his generation. Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9). Enoch was part of the generation that disappeared in the flood, while Noah’s job was to save only his family and the birds and animals. But Abram had a different mission. “Hashem appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Shadai; walk before Me and be perfect. I will set My covenant between Me and you, I will increase you most exceedingly.” (Genesis 17:1-2). “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17:5)
It turns out that to enable someone to accomplish his or her mission in life, one does not have to follow God, but rather to leave everything behind, the familiar and comfortable environment, to find their own path, knowing that God is behind watching their journey.
The problem is only that there is a condition, one needs to know what it takes to be perfect. And of course the answer is going to come after one learns the Torah. And what if you do not have the time, knowledge or desire to do that, or cannot connect with the Torah’s teaching? Perhaps then you need to head to another wise teacher.
The saying “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” belongs to the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu (who lived in 6th -5th century BCE). He was known for many popular sayings like, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading”. Lao Tsu also said, “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality, let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they live.”
When I started writing this story, I had no idea where it would lead me and which images I will use to support it. But on Friday, coming home at the end of a long day, I felt tired, and instead of taking a nap, I decided to go for a walk without any expectations, to follow my regular path with my small camera in my pocket. When I first saw the horizon, there was only one line from the setting sun (Technically, the sun does not set, it is the earth, which is rotating around the sun). I snapped a photo and kept walking, but when I noticed more colors on the sky, I changed the direction (following Lao Tzu’s wise words), and came to a spot with a better view. You see the result. If I kept going, the sunset would be there anyway, but neither you nor I would see it. Enjoy and Share, and keep walking.
P.S. Three images can tell you their own story. While I was photographing the sunset a man came to me and asked if I saw the sky behind me. To get this image, I had to turn around. One of the rules in photography is not to settle with what is in front of your eyes, to change your surroundings, turn around and keep shooting, or you can buy my book “42 Encounters in San Francisco” at encounterspublishing.com. and have it all there.
Do Not Keep Me As A Secret!
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Cheers,
