John F. Burns spent forty years covering world events for The
New York Times. In an article written after his retirement in 2015,
Burns recalled the words of a close friend and fellow journalist who was dying
of cancer. “Never forget,” his colleague said, “It’s not how far you’ve
traveled; it’s what you’ve brought back.”
If Abraham was the first Jew to make aliyah and live in the land
of Israel, Isaac was the first Sabra. Unlike his father Abraham and his son
Jacob, Isaac never left the land of Israel. Nevertheless, he lived an eventful
life meeting the challenges of being a husband, a being father of twins, and
earning a living. He had his run-ins with the Philistines. “Isaac dug anew the
wells which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and which the
Philistines had stopped up after Abraham’s death; and gave them the same names
that his father had given them.” (Genesis 26: 18) “Hakatv Vhakabbalah
understands that the Philistines stopping up the wells was symbolic, not
physical. They tried to block the dissemination of Abraham’s ideas about God in
human behavior-the need for human beings to live righteously.” (Etz Hayim
commentary below the line, page 151)
Psalm 37 could be considered David’s list of what he “brought
back” from his journey of life, from shepherd to soldier and king. The psalm is
a series of couplets contrasting the wicked with the righteous, and affirming
those who trust the Lord.
“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of
those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither” (vv. 1–2).
“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his
hand” (vv. 23–24).
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the
righteous forsaken or their children begging bread” (v. 25).
From our experiences in life, what has God taught us? How have
we experienced His faithfulness and love? In what ways has the Lord’s love
shaped our lives?
It’s not how far we’ve traveled in life, but what we’ve brought
back that counts.
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