Cruise Control

When Dovid was escaping the wrath of King Shaul, his friend Yonasan advised him to hide out in the field and await his report on whether and when it would be safe to return home. 

Yonasan devised a plan with which to secretly convey this information to Dovid.

Yonasan told Dovid: "My servant and I will go out to the fields where you are hiding. I will shoot arrows and tell my servant to fetch them. Listen closely to what I tell him: If I tell my servant 'the arrows are close to you', then you will know that it is safe to return home... 

ואם כה אומר לעלם 'הנה החיצים ממך והלאה' - לך, כי שילחך ה

"But if I tell him 'the arrows are further away', then go, for Hashem has sent you..."
(Shmuel I, 20:22)

Yonasan did not tell Dovid, "Go, because my father is still upset with you." He told him, "Go, for Hashem has sent you."

The journey that was destined for Dovid was planned by Hashem. It was not something that was dictated or controlled by another human being. 

***

All too often, it seems to us that our lives are controlled by our actions, or the actions of others. There seems to be an obvious correlation between these actions and reactions, and we tend to draw the conclusion that these are what control our life and shape our destiny. As a result, we get upset at our mistakes, or those of others, and engage in a never-ending frantic and frenzied drive to always "be in control" of every aspect of our lives. 

When we remember that Hashem destines the steps of man, and that He alone controls the direction and events of our lives, we do not waste time and energy trying to control it. Instead, we do our Hishtadlus and leave the outcome in Hashem's hands, cruising through life, even through its most challenging events, knowing that Hashem is in control. 

To whom else would we rather give control of our life if not Hashem?

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