Life is a journey filled with twists and turns. Sometimes the road is smooth and predictable. Other times it takes us somewhere we never expected to go. We make plans, work hard, and try to do the right thing, and then suddenly life changes in an instant.
Recently, I experienced one of those unexpected turns. While crossing Highway 100 as a pedestrian, I was struck by a car. Within moments, I found myself in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. X-rays revealed multiple broken bones and surgery followed. Since then, I have been recuperating and beginning what I hope will be a complete and speedy recovery.
The accident gave me something I rarely have enough of: time to think.
On one hand, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. It could have been so much worse. I am alive. I am surrounded by family, friends, and a loving community. Looking back, I can see countless moments of divine protection.
Yet I would be dishonest if I said another question never entered my mind. Why? Why would something like this happen? I try to live a meaningful life. I try to help others. I try to bring light into the world. Why would G-d allow such pain and disruption?
The truth is that I do not know.
Perhaps some questions are not meant to be answered immediately. One of the great lessons of faith is that faith does not mean believing everything makes sense. Faith means trusting that even when things do not make sense, G-d is still present.
We recently read in the Torah about the twelve spies sent to scout the Land of Israel. They all saw the same land, the same cities, and the same challenges. Yet ten spies focused on the obstacles. Their fear became greater than their faith. The challenges seemed larger than the opportunities.
Two spies, Yehoshua and Calev, saw the very same landscape and reached a different conclusion. They saw possibility and purpose. Most importantly, they saw G-d.
The difference was not what they saw. The difference was how they chose to interpret what they saw. Every one of us faces moments when life does not unfold according to plan. We stand before a challenge and ask, "Why is this happening to me?"
Perhaps more productive questions are, "What can I learn from this? How can I grow from this? What opportunity might be hidden within this challenge?"
I do not know why this accident happened. But I do know since the accident, more than one hundred people have reached out with prayers, messages, phone calls, visits, acts of kindness, and words of encouragement. I have witnessed extraordinary goodness. I have felt love, support, and the embrace of a community. Through those people, I have felt the embrace of G-d.
There is a famous story that captures this idea beautifully. A man was shown a vision of his life and noticed that for most of his journey there were two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and one to G-d.
But during the most difficult periods of his life, there was only one set of footprints. Feeling hurt, he asked, "G-d, you promised you would always be with me. Why did You leave me when I needed You most?"
And G-d replied, "My child, I did not leave you. During those difficult moments, the footprints you see were mine. I was carrying you."
That story resonates differently with me today than it ever did before. How often do we look at our challenges and assume we are alone? How often do we focus on what is missing and fail to notice what is present?
Sometimes G-d performs obvious miracles, and sometimes he sends a friend, a doctor, a caring spouse, a devoted family member, a prayer, a phone call, or a community that lifts us when we cannot lift ourselves.
The challenge is not whether G-d is there. The challenge is whether we are willing to open our eyes and see him.
Life will always contain moments of joy and moments of pain. None of us are exempt from that reality. But if we learn to search for G-d's presence within the challenge instead of focusing only on the challenge itself, we begin to discover something remarkable.
I still do not know why this accident happened. But I do know that it has reminded me of the extraordinary blessings in my life. As I continue on the road to recovery, that may be the greatest lesson of all.
And when the road feels especially difficult, and we see only one set of footprints, may we remember that we are not walking alone. It may be that G-d is carrying us.
The Jewish Observer is published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Become a supporter today.