When corona is over, I’ll open a new, successful business.
When this pandemic ends, I’ll visit my mom more often.
When the world opens up, I’ll volunteer to help the less fortunate in a developing country.
I’ll have deeper relationships, visit the gym more often and volunteer at the hospital.
When corona is over.
This pandemic has given us lots of time to contemplate and plan. And, it’s made many of us realize how much we could have done when things were normal. It’s also made us realize how much we should do once it subsides.
We’ve got ample time to plan now, but should that be our focus?
*
At the end of this week’s parsha Va’etchanan, G-d reminds the Jewish people of their special mission in this world. It’s not a mission of glory. In fact, Hashem reminds us that it is, “Not because you are more numerous than any people did the L-rd delight in you and choose you, for you are the least of all the peoples.”
Rather, it is a mission of service. As the final verse of the parsha declares, “You shall therefore, observe the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command you this day to do them.”
The Talmud explains the meaning of the last words this day to do them. By telling us to do the commandments now, the Torah is implying that something else will happen later. According to the Talmud, this refers to the reward of the commandments, which will come at a later time (in the afterlife and in the times of Moshiach). We should not be discouraged if we don’t see any return on our investment. The return will come. But, it won’t come now.
There is, however, a deeper calling in the Torah’s message to observe the commandments today. Hashem wants us to obsess on today. Our job is to focus on the here and now.
It’s easy to throw in the towel on today’s opportunities and duties. We often decide to give up on our day before it is over. If Monday is a disaster, we sometimes call it a bad week and start looking ahead to next week.
I saw a sign that said, “Uninstall 2020. It has a virus.”
Certainly, we should be looking ahead. But, not at the expense of today!
Don’t uninstall 2020. Adapt and utilize it to its fullest potential.
When we maximize our current reality, we will merit the materialization of our tomorrow, with the fulfillment of this week’s Haftorah, when G-d declares that He will bring comfort to His people, with the immediate arrival of Moshiach.