Punishment or Pain?

Rav Shalom Schwadron zt"l used to tell the story of the man who, on a flight to Eretz Yisrael, overslept his stop-over in England. He continued on the plane as it headed through Lebanon and India, finally disembarking erev Rosh Hashona in Bangkok, Thailand. In a moving episode of Divine destiny, this stranded Yerushalmi man spent an inspiring Yom Tov with the moderately observant community in Thailand. By the time he left, shiurim had been instituted, mechitzas established, and one young man from the community followed him back to Eretz Yisrael.

 

Later, when commenting on his trip, our traveler reflected that surely not being with his family for Yom Tov was a punishment meted unto him by the Heavenly court. Yet, amidst the punishment and agmas nefesh a flowering of bracha sprouted in his path. As David Hamelech states in Tehillim, "Even in punishment we are surrounded by His mercies."

 

When I heard this story, I paused in consternation. Viewing the unplanned journey in a punitive context struck me as harsh, too harsh. I thought it was a wonderful, beautiful story, not one of punishment.

 

Upon reflection I realized that there was indeed an element of pain in this episode. He did miss out on Yom Tov with his family after all. There is agmas nefesh and it may be recognized as an onesh.

 

Yet even in this punitive light of onesh, yad Hashem is there. Even when the journey of this Yerushalmi man is viewed through the perspective of Divine justice, His mercy is evident and all-encompassing.

 

We deal with situations of pain in our own life. Pain that may be din, as every detail of our life is measured to the nth degree. Yet that pain of onesh is simultaneously a nisayon, a test. Pain is an opportunity to grow. Surrounding the punishment Hashem has ensconced us in His mercy. Pain is a vineyard, a plush garden, that can be reaped with sweat and tears.

 

Pain is an opportunity. A difficult stage in life, the pain of singlehood, it's a chance to grow.