Parshas Beshalach: Facing Our Fears Head-On

Parshas Beshalach: Facing Our Fears Head-On

Travel brings to the surface many of our fears.  Often, the mere thought of traveling scares people.  In fact, I am often told by other travelers that they have friends and family who are afraid to travel.

There are many reasons why people are scared of travel.  Maybe they have children to schlep along.  Traveling or backpacking with a baby or infant is no joke, after all! Often people are afraid of the cost. Travel is expensive.  Or they are afraid of asking their boss for time off to do something that seems (to many) so frivolous.  Perhaps travel would require them to stand up to their friends and family who are not supportive.  A friend of mine recently told me that one of her friends was afraid to travel because – wait for it – she had furniture.

No matter what you’re afraid of, travel means confronting it head-on.  Ironically, people often think that we who travel are running away from our fears. It couldn’t be further from the truth! We’re running toward our fears.  We are deliberately putting ourselves in situations where we will have to face obstacles and challenges without being able to fall back on family and friends for support.  We step outside our comfort zones.

In this week’s parsha, the Jews also need to step out of their comfort zone.  They have just left Egypt and the Egyptian army is pursuing them. They have never known any life other than that of a slave.  It would be so much easier to fly the white flag and go turn themselves in, return to the life they had known.  But that is not what G-d expects of us. G-d expects us to go above and beyond, even when it is hard, even when it is uncomfortable.  Of all the Jewish people, only one man, Nachshon ben Aminadav, was able to face his fears and walk straight into the sea, away from his enemies.  He walked in until the water was up to his ankles, his knees, his chest, his chin, and then… Only with the waves lapping over him did the sea split.

If we really step outside of our comfort zones, if we immerse ourselves in life until it feels as if we might drown, if we challenge ourselves to the utmost in order to face our fears, then G-d will reward our efforts and split our own personal sea.  G-d will provide us safe passage.  As the sages teach, we have only to open a space the size of the eye of an needle to allow G-d in and He will open it to the size of a doorway we can walk through.  But we have to take that first step. We have to open the eye of that needle.  We have to face our fears.

This week, let us all work on facing our fears, challenge ourselves to new levels of growth, and step outside of our usual comfort zones.  Click here for some advice on facing your fears. Have strength and G-d will be with you!

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