Everything is Awesome…sometimes!
“Ki teitzei” When you go out.(Devarim 21:10)
Ki Teitzei does not promise that life will stay predictable. Its opening words, “when you go out,” recognize that life regularly takes us beyond the familiar. The parsha gives us a Torah response: expect the unexpected and, prepare for it.
Torah Doesn’t Pretend We’re Perfect
Some sections of this parsha address raw, complex human realities. The Jewish nation is composed of human beings, and human nature is complicated. The Torah does not wait for an idealized version of us to appear. Instead, it addressed the reality. We are capable of spiritual greatness and also prone to struggle. The Torah provides clear guidance on how to navigate both.
We are not asked to pretend that “everything is awesome” at all times. Rather, the Torah equips us with the tools and direction to respond whenever life presents challenging scenarios.
Several years ago, during an interview, I was asked how people manage to “do it all.” My response was that we need to debunk the myth that everything is awesome all the time. While someone may outwardly appear to have it all together, we know that is neither realistic nor true.
Afterward, I received feedback from a viewer who was genuinely dismayed: “What do you mean everything isn’t awesome all the time?” How can you say that? They were crushed.
So many of us strive for perfection, to have everything be awesome all the time, but perfection is rarely attainable and can become restrictive. Embracing the reality that things can be wonderful sometimes, while recognizing that when they are not, we have the guidance and resilience to handle it, is a profoundly valuable lesson.
Holiness in the Ordinary
The parsha outlines everyday situations: return a lost object rather than pretending not to notice it; construct a guardrail on your roof before an accident occurs; use honest weights and measures; and pay a worker promptly.
Though these mitzvos cover diverse circumstances, they share a singular lesson: holiness is forged in those small, deliberate choices when we say, “I see what is required here, and I will not look away.” The Torah guides us, maybe everything isn’t awesome all the time but we can take the everyday moments and make them awesome one by one.
We do not need to resolve every challenge all at once. We simply become people who pay attention one act at a time.
As we progress through the month of Elul, it is worth reflecting: How can I be more present and responsive for myself and for others, both in ideal moments and in the unexpected ones?
Reader’s Reflection
What’s one way we can take a struggle and elevate it to something holy?