Yesterday, when I was supposed to be showing houses to a client, Hurricane Fay was blowing some wind and rain in our area here in northeast Florida. Many of the bridges were closed due to high winds, so, since I couldn't show houses I decided to check out the beaches where I live.
I put on a nylon windbreaker, camera in pocket, and stepped out of my car. As I got closer to the oean, the wind filled my windbreaker, and I found myself being blown sideways, toward some concrete steps. Fortunately there were several concrete pillars in the walkways. I wedged myself between two of the concrete posts and held on for dear life.
I saw others walking around, and realized that it was my nylon windbreaker that was causing me to be a potential, if reluctant para-sailor! As I looked around at the news vans, at the ocean which was churning white foam as far as I could see, at water that was coming up the steps of the red cross station, at the royal palm trees bending at the waist, I realized how little control we have in the face of the Almighty Creator of heaven, earth, wind, rain,- and mankind!
I made it back safely to my car, with some pictures, and went home and counted my blessings. As my granddaughter said, I had no right to worry my family like that! All day the newscasts were consumed with weather updates. The rain poured and the wind howled all night. Today it was tornado warnings.
In the place where I stood, clinging to the concrete post, I earlier saw four young men, two of them in swim trunks, milling around. Later that day, my daughter informed me that a surfer had drowned at that very beach. It most likely was one of those young men who were there for adventure.
I cannot imagine the terror of the men, women, children and animals at the onset of the flood during the time of Noah. At what point did they realize that Noah had truly received revelation from Hashem? And Noah and his family on the ark, surrounded by the evidence of G-d's power and wrath, trusting but fearful. I can't imagine witnessing this event nonstop for 40 days and 40 nights.
Because of this one event, we are here to tell the story of Noah, a "righteous man who walked with G-d." We are here, free to do utterly stupid things like surf or take pictures during hurricanes. When I think of the unimaginable wrath that Hashem unleashed with mighty waters and mighty winds, enough to destroy the earth and everything on it, I marvel that His wrath was dwarfed by the measure of His love and mercy.
The fact that Hashem thought it was important to preserve one man and his family and life on earth, in the merit of one man, is astounding to me. That Hashem could be bothered to save the world for the sake of one individual is beyond reason. If a single life is so precious to Hashem, how much more precious should life be to each of us. Every person is important to Hashem. We are all created in His image. So of course we should cherish each other, nourish and encourage each other, always give each other the benefit of the doubt, and love each other.
The Torah doesn't tell us that Noah's family was particularly righteous, only that Noah was. This is a pattern that we see in the Torah where Hashem saves many for the sake of a few. In this situation, it was only for the sake of one,- Noah.
I know that Bnai Noah often feel a loss of community, and difficulty in finding their place in the g-d fearing world. How awesome it is to know that the first Noahide was a community of two- Noah and Hashem. The winds may blow and the rain may fall, but with Hashem in charge, Bnai Noah should feel nurtured and cherished in the most holy and fundamental way. Community? It is for your sake that the community of mankind exists today.
Kol tuv.
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