Racing with Purpose (Vayechi 5774)

As we race toward winter break, this is a good moment to reflect on how we sometimes race ahead of ourselves or race ahead without purpose.

Credit Diario De Navana via Huffington Post

In the Torah reading cycle this week we also are racing toward the end of the book of Bereisheet, which we conclude by reading Vayechi. In it, there is an interesting expression that Jacob uses to describe his oldest son, Reuven, “pachaz ka-mayim -- unstable as water.” (Genesis 49:4) Rashi (11th century) explains this means a kind of recklessness like waters that are rushing without a sense of direction.

The biblical Jacob points to this aspect of Reuven’s behavior to explain why Reuven did not receive all that was otherwise due to him by virtue of being the first-born.  In addition to the benefit of birth-order Reuven also has leadership skills and good intentions with many chances to demonstrate both. But he lacks resilience and strength of character to follow-through on each.  

Reuven begins with good intentions but races off in a different direction and never completes good actions. For example, it is Reuven who plans to save Joseph from their brothers’ jealous plot.  Reuven keeps Joseph alive but does not act thoroughly enough to protect Joseph from being sold into slavery. 

A lesson for us in this story is that authentic growth and ultimately success depends on our ability not only to be inspired to do good things but also pursue them with determination and resilience.  Two famous stories about races and racing ahead with purpose illustrate this.

Nearly four decades ago during a Seattle Special Olympics track and field event, nine contestants lined up for the 100-yard dash. Each was differently-abled in some way.  As the race started each raced ahead toward the finish line.  Then one contestant stumbled.  Two of his competitors stopped, turned back, and reached down to help their fallen opponent.  They helped him up, linked arms, and finished the race together.  In other words, they raced with a purpose -- a higher purpose. They had the determination to stay on a path that was about more than winning a medal or finishing first.

Nearly forty years later, in early 2013, comes another racing story.  This was a cross-country race in which Spaniard, Ivan Fernandez Anaya, intentionally loses the race so an opponent can win.  Throughout all of the race and as they approached the finish line Fernandez Anaya was trailing behind Olympic bronze medalist Abel Mutai. In fact, Mutai was leading comfortably until he pulled up 10 to 20 meters short of the finish line.  Mutai thought he had already crossed the finish line and had won.  As Fernandez Anaya approached the stopped Mutai from behind, instead of racing past him, Fernandez Anaya slowed down and told Mutai to keep running. Since they didn't speak a common language, Fernandez encouragingly gestured at Mutai to get going again. He let Mutai win the race.  

"I didn't deserve to win it," Fernandez Anaya said later, "I did what I had to do. He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn't have closed if he hadn't made a mistake.”  

Fernandez Anaya ran with purpose. He stayed on a path that transcended a single race, that made him a winner long after the trophies and medals were handed out.  Link to Huffington Post story about the race

The question for us is:  do we have the resilience and determination to race with purpose, to focus on a finish line that is about supporting those who have fallen and honoring the best that is within us, and pursuing more than the medals and trophies that may come from crossing the finish line first.