Transitions are not easy, even ones you invite or choose. Those that happen without our acquiescence or those that happen without our desire for them are just that much more difficult. And the transition doesn’t have to be big to be hard. It could be as big move, new job or the end of a relationship. But it could be as simple as buying a new bra- it can be uncomfortable. For those of you who have never done it, trust me, it can be uncomfortable. And when we go through transition we rely on our habits and our strength. We have to dig deep sometimes and turn into ourselves to move through the change with grace.
So imagine what Moses must have been going through when the Israelites finally, FINALLY, reach the edge of “the promised land”. They can see it. Some have even been there to touch it, feel it and taste it. But not Moses. Moses doesn’t get to go. Not only that, Moses is being transitioned away from his leadership role. It’s time for him to hand over the reins. It is time for him to look death squarely in the face and be prepared for whatever, if anything, is next beyond. That’s tough. And Moses has no choice.
In our lives, similarly, sometimes we don’t have a choice either. We go through transitions- sometimes they are ones we want, and they are different from what we anticipated. Sometimes they are not ones we ask for. Rarely are they as smooth sailing as we imagine. How do we handle those transitions? The ones that are not what we expect. We can turn back to this week’s parshah once again. Moses recounts that as the Children of Israel transform from wanderers to homesteaders that if they cleave to, if they yoke themselves to Gd by following the 10 Commandments and by having the firm belief that there is only The one Gd that Gd will make that transition easier. Gd will provide everything that they need to not only survive but to thrive.
Where do we see the application of this in our lives today? Well, I think it is obvious where we see this in our lives today, right. We make good choices- we get good things. We don’t make good choices we don’t get good things ( I’d like to credit my sister Amy for that saying, which you may have heard or read from me before). Maybe it is not that easy. But, if we choose to live an ethical life, to follow the tenet’s of Torah then we will be in relationships that are filled with love and compassion and that support can make the transition easier. If we are in a loving and compassionate relationship with ourselves then we have the ability to move through change with strength and flexibility to navigate the uncertainty. And maybe some sweetness can even be found.
What does this have to do with yoga? So yoga means to yoke. I’m pretty sure that some of you already know that. Yoga is more than just a physical practice. If fact, it coexists with the observance of what we call the Yamas and Niyamas in Sanskrit. These are rules of the road. They are 10 commandments that govern how we should act and behave in relationship with ourselves, Gd and those around us. Sound familiar? When we practice yoga, all of yoga- which includes these 10 tenets of behavior, we have the ability to find enlightenment, i.e. connection to Gd. When we make the connection to Gd, perhaps the transitions can be a little less uncomfortable and a lot more graceful.