Earlier this week, I found myself in a car speeding down a road and yet there was no one in the driver seat. The steering wheel was turning when we got to a turn, the blinkers went on when we turned corners, the car was stopping at the stop signs, yet, there was no one in the driver seat, navigating this journey.
Or so it seemed...
I was in a Waymo, for the first time in my life...
It felt like a loss of control and it was a little nerve wracking, yet it took a belief that some entity and technology was safe enough to make this work and to be willing to give it a try.
Here and there, I saw someone wave a thank you to this driverless car, as they thanked some AI chip somewhere out there.
Is this the way of the future, I don't know, but certainly those who are investing in this, believe it is.
In life, we too like to feel like we are in the driver's seat and the ones who are turning the wheels, turning on the blinker, and choosing what stops for us. Yet as much as we do and even as we put in tremendous effort as we should do into life, G-d is the one who is behind the wheel and helping us navigate our destiny and purpose.
Transitioning from a mindset of us being in complete control and the ones behind the wheel, to remembering who really is the driver, is certainly something worse investing in and will ultimately enable us to accomplish so much more.
So Waymo's have many purposes, including teaching us to expand our mind perspective on so many levels.
This week, I also met briefly with someone who it would seem is no longer in the driver's seat in his life, as he can no longer move his arms, legs, lips, fingers and so much more, as he battles ALS. Yet at the same time, he lives a life of meaning with his family and community, and finds a way to continue to focus on the purpose and goals of life.
Rabbi Yitzy Horowitz ran Chabad of Temecula for many years, until he was diagnosed with ALS a number of years ago. He uses his eyes to write and teach ideas, and spend time with his family and community.
I went to visit him to say hello, and share some beautiful feedback from some people in the community who had viewed a video about him, we had shared in a recent class. He appreciated it and was grateful for the feedback, and then opened up on his big screen a Chassidic Discourse, of Basi LeGani, (I have come to my garden), which describes the world as a being a place which is G-d's garden which we are meant to cultivate and develop, even though it can be challenging at times.
In walked my friend Rabbi Cohen who teaches at a Yeshiva, and about 40 eighteen year old students, who come three times a week, to study in the company of Rabbi Yitzy.
It was a truly uplifting sight and moment to witness and a be apart of.
Rabbi Yitzy may not be behind the steering wheel in so many ways, yet he has certainly created a space, where the driver is in control and the journey of meaning, purpose and growth is happening in such a deep and meaningful way.
You can see a moving clip about Rabbi Yitzy over here
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Yisroel