Q: What do you wish a young
man on his 120th birthday?
A: Have a great day!
*
There aren't many people
these days (if any) who hit the great age of 120, but for argument's sake,
let's imagine that you would be celebrating your 120th birthday
today, with your body in full function. What would you do?
Would you go skydiving?
Would you finally try out
some illegal substances, or do some immoral act which you never permitted
yourself earlier in your life?
Would you sit and count the
minutes until the end?
Would you spend some quality
time with your kids (if they are still living)?
Would you spend some quality
time with your kids (if they are still living), grandkids, great-grandkids,
great-great-grandkids, great-great-great-grandkids?
Would you hire a film crew
to capture your last day on earth?
Would you cry your eyes out
in repentance?
Towards the end of
Deuteronomy, the Torah describes the last day of Moses' life: "And Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. And he said to
them: 'I am a hundred and twenty years old this day…'"
What did Moses do on his 120th
birthday? He went! He moved! He grew. He inspired. He taught. He blessed. He
accomplished.
There are 86,400 seconds in
a day. That is 86,400 opportunities to fulfill the will of G‑d in mind, speech,
and action.
Moses, who knew the meaning
of life, and who appreciated every minute of it, filled up his last day with as
much action as possible. He had one more day to grow, and he maximized it.
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
4 Comments
