Take the Picture with You

One of the greatest lessons that Hashem taught us was through the forty years that the Jewish people spent in the desert. There they had no homes, no farms, no businesses, and no way to provide for themselves. And that was one of the greatest blessings because they knew with absolute clarity that they were completely dependent upon Hashem for every aspect of their lives. That made it much easier for them to adhere to the Torah and mitzvot. Moshe Rabbenu told the people in Parashat Ekev how their food came in the form of the mann, their water came from a rock, and their clothing never wore out. Every single day they lived with the clear recognition that Hashem alone was sustaining them. And that was a lesson they were going to need for the rest of their lives. Because Moshe warned them that everything was about to change. They were going to enter Eretz Yisrael. There they would build beautiful homes, earn their own living, buy and sell, and accumulate wealth. And at that point there would be a great danger. They were going to think that it was their own strength and ability that brought them their success. They would no longer see as clearly that Hashem was providing everything for them. Therefore, Moshe told them in advance that nothing was really going to change. The mann might stop falling, but Hashem would still be providing every meal. They would build sturdy homes, but it would not be the homes protecting them—it would be Hashem. They would work and earn money, but it would still be Hashem Who was giving them every dollar. The desert was meant to teach them a lesson that they would carry with them for the rest of their lives. Although the miracles would no longer be as open, the One providing for them was not going to change. He would still be the very same Provider. And this lesson was not written only for that generation. It was written for all generations, including us. We may no longer receive mann, but every bit of sustenance we receive comes from Hashem. We may think we're earning our own living, building our own homes, and solving our own problems, but behind every success stands the same Hashem Who sustained His nation in the desert for forty years. A man who passed away this past week, Moshe ben Nizha a"h,, left his family with many great lessons, one of which was shared by his children. Several years ago, he had to spend a month in Italy on business. While he was there, he sent his children a picture and asked them to enlarge it and frame it so he could hang it on his wall. They assumed he was going to send a picture of the beautiful hotel where he was staying. Instead, he sent them a picture of a plain stone staircase with a brick wall beside it. They couldn't understand why he wanted such a picture enlarged. He explained that years earlier he had stayed at that very same hotel. One day, after everyone had left, he was climbing that staircase to his room when he tripped, slammed his head into the stone wall, and then fell backward onto the concrete floor. He was badly injured, bleeding from his head, and unable to move. He had no phone with him, no family, no friends, and nobody knew where he was. It was an isolated area, and no one was expected to come by. Lying there helplessly, he looked up toward Shamayim, and with the little strength he had left, he prayed, "Hashem, please save me." Less than a minute later, someone unexpectedly appeared. The man was not supposed to be there at that time, yet he noticed him lying on the floor and rushed over to help. Amazingly, this man was a doctor. He treated him, bandaged his wounds, and made sure he received the care he needed. Although he had suffered a concussion, he made a complete recovery. That staircase became one of the most meaningful places in his life. He wanted that picture hanging on his wall because he never wanted to forget that moment. Whenever life became difficult or it seemed that there was no solution, he wanted to look at that picture and remember. He wanted to remember lying helplessly on the floor in a foreign country with absolutely no one to turn to for help, and how Hashem sent him his salvation in less than a minute. This is the lesson Moshe Rabbeinu wanted us to take from the desert. We all have moments in our lives when Hashem's hand is obvious and crystal clear. Those moments are not only meant to help us then—they are meant to become our own "desert." We should take a picture of those moments and carry them with us for the rest of our lives. Then, if life ever becomes too comfortable and we begin feeling that we're managing on our own, or when we face a challenge that seems impossible, we can look back and remember that nothing has really changed. The same Hashem Who helped us then is helping us now. The same Hashem Who provided the mann in the desert, and the same Hashem Who sent a doctor to a secluded staircase in Italy, is guiding every detail of our lives today. When we internalize those moments of clarity, they become a source of strength for every situation we will ever face. No matter where we are, and no matter how impossible things appear to be, Hashem is always with us, just as He always has been, and He can help us through every situation.