“Go Forward”

When we embark on our journey towards realizing our dreams, goals, and purpose, we should expect and be prepared for obstacles.  There will be those times when we are confronted with fear or doubt which will look like an obstacle, or an actual obstacle that creates fear or doubt.  That usually produces paralysis and then we become stuck where we are.

Here is a very powerful story that can serve as a helpful reminder whenever you come up against those obstacles.  It is  found in the Torah reading of two weeks ago (Beshalach – Exodus 13:17-17:16).

The Jewish people have been freed by Pharaoh and just a few days after marching in the desert, they find that Pharaoh has changed his mind and his soldiers are chasing after them. As they look ahead, they see the Red Sea. They are now trapped with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian soldiers behind them. They are asking themselves, “Is this what we were freed for, to die here in the desert?” Anxious and distraught they break up into four different camps of thought. One says,” Let’s dive into to the sea and drown ourselves rather than be killed by the soldiers. One says, “Let’s just surrender and go back.” One says, “I’d rather die fighting than go back.” One says, “Let’s pray.” They approach Moses and ask him which approach to take and he tells them he will ask G-d.  “Speak to the children of Israel,” G‑d says to Moses, “that they should go forward.”  We all know what happened next.

As you move towards realizing your dreams, goals, and purpose, there will be those times when you reach your Red Sea. When you are confronted with fear or doubt by obstacles placed in front of you, or placed there by you. It is at those moments when you must remind yourself to have faith and ” Go forward.” When you know of others in that situation, remind them as well.

 “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.” –  Edward Teller

Heart and Soul

A powerful lesson and reminder worth re-printing and updating again from the last time 1/20/13