Lessons from the Champs! October 31, 2013 Boston is an amazing place to live. There are numerous reasons, but for right now let us just focus on the recent Red Sox Championship. As trivial as some may see it, the effects of championships on this city cannot be overstated. People are happier everywhere. There is a real sense of “our team” that just brings people together. After the 2007 Championship I called an elderly lady with a request to help fund our program. These calls typically go something to the effect of “Hello, we are doing great things for Jewish College students and would love your support,” followed by a yes or no (usually no if the phone hasn’t been hung up yet ☺). Well, with this woman, it was quite different: CW: “ Hello Mrs. X, our program is really wonderful and we are helping Jewish college students in so many ways, Can we count on you for your support?” Mrs. X: Rabbi, I have to tell you, around this time of year it’s really quite depressing. It’s getting colder, the leaves have fallen off the trees, and there’s gloominess everywhere. THANK G-D THE RED SOX WON! I am sending you a check! --- Besides the general positive sentiments and overall sense of accomplishment, as Jews, we always want to find other, deeper meanings that we can take with us from every event. The excitement of a championship run is exhilarating, but now that it is over we need more than highlight reels to keep it with us. I thought of sharing these 3 Jewish ideas that I think this Red Sox team embodied. Today is today, but Tomorrow is Tomorrow! A year ago this team was overinflated after the previous year’s “beer & chicken” team had failed miserably. Heavy contracts, bad attitudes, and tons of egos did not get the job done. The team made the decision to go with “character guys” which sounds like a nice sentiment, but most in the sports world see that phrase to mean, “losing time.” After last year’s last place finish the best hopes for this club were to make strides in the right direction. Nobody had them picked to do anything besides be a nice night out during the long hot summer. In Judaism, we say that every day is a new day, ready for you to make a difference. Every morning we wake up and declare ourselves free of the things that held us back. No obstacles from yesterday can prevent greatness today. We are, in a sense, a new creation with boundless potential to do what is right, what is best, and what will bring us the ultimate in true fulfillment. We carry the lessons of yesterday, and our inclinations, too, but we have the power to overcome and achieve in new or renewed ways. That is the story of this season. This team could have been happy to collect their checks and entertain the fans, yet, they felt that newness, gave it their all, and ended up World Champions. We can do that, too, in our lives. We might not get a Duk Boat Parade for doing it, but it will be well worth it! Being good and looking good are two different things. The Red Sox had it all last year – power hitters, big name free agents, and a superstar manager in Bobby Valentine, straight from the Television Studios. They were comprised of lots of glitz and glamor and should have been able to make a big run towards the World Series. They did not and could not. Why not? Seems they had no heart. Seems they were posing and posturing. Seems they had no chemistry. No matter the reason, they lost and lost horribly earning themselves the dubious last place in the standings. One of the more important lessons in life is to understand that “my accolades do not define me.” Advanced degrees, important titles, and large bank accounts are wonderful, but the true measure of our self, and self worth, is what we do with our gifts and the results of our hard work. Do we give back? Do we treat others with respect? Do we find time for those that need us? Do we make sure we care? All the degrees and money in the world mean nothing, and get you a last place finish, if not applied in the right ways. This year’s team was just that, a Team. They bonded and used their energies and talents to keep each other up, struggle together, and achieve that which thousands of others, and many of those more talented than this group, could not. (As an important side note: They were also renowned for the amazing acts they did throughout the season for Boston marathon victims, along with America’s service men and women.) We must keep our perspective about us in life and use our talents and gifts in the best ways possible. We must realize that we are a part of the whole, not apart from the whole. We can not look the part; we have to be the part. Don’t give up on yourself, or others. This team certainly would not give up. When they looked over matched after 17 innings of baseball against the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS, they could have folded and been proud of their season. No way, not this team. They marched on and stayed strong to the finish, taking that series along with the championship. What a run! Really, it was a lesson in never giving up on yourself or others. Sometimes we doubt that our message is getting through or that we are the right person for the task at hand. Sometimes we put others and ourselves in a “box” of abilities and potential. We cannot do that. In Judaism we say that everyone was created in the image of G-d. That makes anything possible for anybody, anytime. We all have limitless potential and can truly change the world. If we hold ourselves back thinking “I can’t do that” or “ I wasn’t made that way,” that’s not my thing” or “he’ll never understand,” or “there’s no hope for that guy” or any other expression of limitedness we do a disservice to ourselves, to others, and ultimately to G-d. Under the right circumstances we can all thrive. We have to be committed to putting ourselves in those places, and do the same with those that are around us. We can succeed in things great and small, we just cannot box our thinking in or hold ourselves back because of flawed perceptions. -- This was a great run by a team for the ages. Congrats to Boston and the Red Sox. Thanks for teaching us some great deep lessons that we can carry with us forever.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:33:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015