Living in the Moment
I find the summer to be the perfect opportunity to reflect upon what I have or have not accomplished in life over the past year. I suppose it is part of the preparation for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. It is easy to find faults, regret missed opportunities, and question bad decisions. It is also an opportunity to relive positive experiences that have transpired throughout the year. Time marches on at such a rapid pace, often leaving little occasion to process the impact of important moments.
The greatest commodity we possess in life is time. Time lost is a missed opportunity. For example, I recently promised my son Sammy that I would sleep with him in a tent in the backyard. It seemed like a wonderful bonding opportunity – the kind of experience that he would remember as an adult. Unfortunately, I found reasons to avoid it -- too wet outside, wouldn’t get a good enough sleep, too cold, too buggy, etc. Upon reflection, I could have tried harder. What if that opportunity does not present itself again? I know this type of thinking is pessimistic, but I am also a realist. Life happens while we are busy making plans.
Every Shabbat afternoon, a bunch of the neighbourhood children come over to our house to play road hockey. The large majority of their playtime is spent arguing about who is on which team, fighting over a hockey stick, and picking a goalie. By the time the game starts, it is dinner time and everyone leaves. So much for the “big game!” Life is about not missing the moment.
As I near the end of my eighth year at Beth Sholom, I am grateful for the opportunity to share so many meaningful experiences with you. Rabbi Aaron and I devote our lives to the needs of our Beth Sholom community. Part of that challenge is accepting the responsibility of living life through the eyes of so many different people. As we carry on going from shivas to weddings and from funerals to bar mitzvahs, my message this Rosh Hashana is simple. Don’t get lost in the moment – live it and cherish it. Don’t get bogged down worrying about the wilting flowers and the less than perfect meal at your simcha. Instead, engrave in your mind the image of your son’s smile when the candies are being thrown at him after chanting his haftorah. Focus on those few seconds when tears of joy are streaming down your daughter’s face as the wedding ring is placed on her finger. These are the subtleties that define the moment.
I was recently shopping for a card for Melissa for our 10 year anniversary and came upon the following quote on a greeting card. “Many people are so concerned with adding days to their life that they forget to add life to their days.” Life can become so mechanical and mundane if we let it. As it is said in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers): “Say not when I have time I will, because you may never have the time.”
On this Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, spend some time reflecting on the year that passed. Try to transcend the boundaries of time and remember the moments that truly made a difference. As we embark on the journey into a new year, let 5769 give you new opportunities to “live in the moment.” Before you know it, life will have passed us by and we will have missed out.
On behalf of my wife Melissa and my children, Sammy, Aviva and Tali, I wish you a shana tovah u’metukah.
Cantor Eric Moses