Exactly Where We Need to Be

We naturally become frustrated when we encounter delays or when our schedules suddenly change. But someone with emunah knows that what may appear to be an inconvenience is actually the loving hand of Hashem guiding him exactly where he needs to be. The Midrash tells us that a person's legs are his guarantors. They carry him to the places he is meant to be. We may think we are going somewhere for one reason, while Hashem has an entirely different purpose in mind. Sometimes He is protecting us from harm. Sometimes He is arranging an encounter that will help us. Sometimes He is creating opportunities that could never have happened otherwise. Most of the time, we never discover the reason, but we can be certain that every delay and every detour has purpose. A man related that his son recently quit his job with the understanding that he was going to start a new business with a partner. However, after he had already left his job, the partner backed out. The son felt he could still operate the business on his own, but he needed money to get it started. The father told his son he would try to find someone who could help. The very next day, the train he normally took after work to his summer residence was canceled. Instead, he decided to take the subway to his winter residence and spend the night there. It was an inconvenience, but he accepted it happily, knowing it was min haShamayim. After getting off the subway, even though it was only 5:30 in the afternoon, he suddenly decided to pick up dinner on the way home. He passed a restaurant he had never entered before and felt an unusual craving for that type of food. While placing his order, he noticed an old friend sitting alone. He went over to say hello, and the friend invited him to join him. During their conversation, the father mentioned what his son had recently gone through. The friend smiled and said it would be his pleasure to lend the son the money he needed, to be repaid whenever he was able. The father told me it was incredible to see how Hashem had orchestrated everything. From the canceled train, to the decision to stay elsewhere for the night, to the sudden craving that brought him into that restaurant, every step led him to the exact person who could help his son. Another man, whom we'll call Rabbi Shemueli, told me that he works in a day camp together with several other rabbis. During the first few days of camp, the director asked them to remain an extra forty minutes after camp ended to make sure dismissal ran smoothly. Rabbi Shimoni, who was also a Hatzalah member, commented to Rabbi Shemueli that he didn't understand why they needed to stay. Everything seemed to be operating perfectly well without them. Still, he accepted the request and remained there patiently. About five minutes after making that comment, Rabbi Shimoni noticed one of the boys was not wearing his kippah. He walked over to remind him to put it back on. As he approached, he suddenly noticed another boy turning blue from choking. Shockingly, no one else had realized what was happening. The boy could not call for help because a seaweed snack was lodged in his throat. Rabbi Shimoni immediately sprang into action, dislodged the food, and saved the boy's life. Later, he said how clearly Hashem had shown him that we are always exactly where we are meant to be. He could not understand why he needed to remain in camp for those extra forty minutes, but within minutes Hashem revealed one reason. Most of the time we are not privileged to see the reason at all. Here, Hashem allowed him a glimpse behind the curtain. We are always exactly where Hashem wants us to be. When we internalize that truth, we can remain calm and even happy when plans change or delays occur, knowing that every step we take and every place we find ourselves has been carefully arranged by Hashem for a purpose. Sometimes Hashem allows us to see that purpose, but even when He doesn't, we can trust that there is a reason. What appears to us as an inconvenience may actually be one of the most important moments in our journey.