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| Standing Together: Asia and Aubrey |
The journey of a school year is not a sprint, although it can feel like one when our plates are overflowing with opportunities or challenges. But neither is it a marathon completely beyond the reach of most of us.
Each new school year is more like a 10k race. That is, short enough to be finished. Long enough to require perseverance and partners.
The start of each new Jewish year also is brief enough to be completed and long enough to require perseverance and partners. This idea is reflected in the final Torah portion, Nitzavim, of the year that is just coming to a close.
But before more on Torah, I have in mind a particular 10k from March 2015 in Louisville. It involved two ordinary folks who did extraordinary things: Asia Ford, a black mom, and Aubrey Gregory, a white cop. Asia entered the race and Aubrey worked the race.
Each new school year is more like a 10k race. That is, short enough to be finished. Long enough to require perseverance and partners.
The start of each new Jewish year also is brief enough to be completed and long enough to require perseverance and partners. This idea is reflected in the final Torah portion, Nitzavim, of the year that is just coming to a close.
But before more on Torah, I have in mind a particular 10k from March 2015 in Louisville. It involved two ordinary folks who did extraordinary things: Asia Ford, a black mom, and Aubrey Gregory, a white cop. Asia entered the race and Aubrey worked the race.
For Asia the race was a chance to demonstrate to her three children the power of persevering along a purposeful path. Asia's path was to lose weight, get healthy. She already had dropped 200 pounds from a high 474 pounds. But during the 10k Asia started struggling with two miles left to go. An emergency medical team stepped in to assess whether she could continue. Asia refused their recommendation that she stop even walking the race route.
The emergency medical team was accompanied by a police officer, Aubrey. He heard Asia say there was no way she was quitting. She was determined to stay on her path and cross the finish line. So Aubrey put his hand in Asia's. He promised to walk all the way to the end of the path with her. “We’re going to do this together!” Aubrey told Asia.
And that's what they did! As they walked hand in hand Aubrey and Asia discovered they shared a common history of family members battling diabetes. Despite their differences on the outside, on the inside there was common poignancy and inspiration that strengthened their bond.
Similarly the Torah portion this week begins with a description of the community of Israel standing together in the wilderness to form a community. But the verb used to describe their standing -- nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:10) is not meant for ordinary, passive standing. Rather it is meant to convey standing with an attitude, with an active purpose. In the same passage, Torah elaborates on those who are standing together, for example, from high tribal leaders to lowly water carriers. Then several verses later, when describing the journey of Torah, the text offers encouragement. We learn from there that the path of Torah is not so distant, so far away that we might be reluctant to pursue it. Rather it is very close to us. (Deuteronomy 30:11)
This is Torah's way of teaching two lessons about being on a path of purpose. First, we are stronger when standing together with others. Despite any external differences marking those who stand together, if there is a common thread - say Torah or a comparable family struggle - those who stand together are inspired to strengthen their bonds. Second, we should not be discouraged that a path of purpose is too long for us to cross. Rather it is within reach if we persevere and stand together.
These are powerful lessons for entering a race, beginning a new school year, and starting a new year. Just as Aubrey helped Asia to keep going toward on her path making it far less remote, he also helped her know she did not stand alone. Standing alone she might have stopped or collapsed. But standing together she stuck to her path of purpose.
Similarly the Torah portion this week begins with a description of the community of Israel standing together in the wilderness to form a community. But the verb used to describe their standing -- nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:10) is not meant for ordinary, passive standing. Rather it is meant to convey standing with an attitude, with an active purpose. In the same passage, Torah elaborates on those who are standing together, for example, from high tribal leaders to lowly water carriers. Then several verses later, when describing the journey of Torah, the text offers encouragement. We learn from there that the path of Torah is not so distant, so far away that we might be reluctant to pursue it. Rather it is very close to us. (Deuteronomy 30:11)
This is Torah's way of teaching two lessons about being on a path of purpose. First, we are stronger when standing together with others. Despite any external differences marking those who stand together, if there is a common thread - say Torah or a comparable family struggle - those who stand together are inspired to strengthen their bonds. Second, we should not be discouraged that a path of purpose is too long for us to cross. Rather it is within reach if we persevere and stand together.
These are powerful lessons for entering a race, beginning a new school year, and starting a new year. Just as Aubrey helped Asia to keep going toward on her path making it far less remote, he also helped her know she did not stand alone. Standing alone she might have stopped or collapsed. But standing together she stuck to her path of purpose.
Who will we stand with in the year ahead? Who will we permit to stand with us? As we embark on a new school year and enter a new Jewish year, may each of us have the strength to stand with others when they need us. And may we have the wisdom to receive the hand of those who want to stand with us ensuring that our goal on the path of purpose is within reach.
With gratitude to Aubrey and Asia for the inspiration of their story.
With gratitude to Aubrey and Asia for the inspiration of their story.
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