My vehicle slowly traveled on the icy road while the snow fiercely fell upon my windshield. I closely paid attention to all the warning signs displayed alongside the roads. Warning of icy roads, accidents ahead, deer crossing and more. It made me wonder about the many struggles we have been through and the unknown that is yet ahead. Where does one derive the strength to deal with all these changes? The world around us is constantly changing, new leadership, recently adapted laws, and wars around the globe.
It made me think of a story I once heard of a small sprout, fragile and uncertain, planted in an abandoned field. The sapling was alone against the forces of nature. The winds were fierce, the storms relentless, and the sapling often wondered if it would ever grow strong enough to stand tall in the face of such struggles. But gradually, over time, something began to change. The storms that had once felt so overwhelming started to shape the plant. The winds, though harsh, forced its roots to dig deeper into the earth. The rain, though unpredictable, nourished it, giving it strength it didn’t know it had. With each passing season, the sapling grew, its branches reaching higher, its trunk growing sturdier. Eventually, what had seemed so weak and fragile became a strong, towering tree, resilient and beautiful, standing firm against whatever came its way.
As we step into 2025, I think we all share something of that sapling’s journey. This past year, many of us have faced struggles, personal, emotional, or collective. There were moments when we felt overwhelmed, when we weren’t sure we could keep going. But just like the tree, we have grown in ways we may not have expected. Every challenge, every difficult moment, has rooted us deeper, has shaped us into something stronger. We are not the same as we were last year. We are different. We are more resilient, capable and ready for what lies ahead.
In 2025, let us remember that, just like the tree, we are meant to grow. Even when life feels uncertain, or the struggles feel overwhelming, we are being shaped, strengthened, and prepared for something greater. We may not always see the growth in the moment, but if we look back, we’ll see how far we’ve come. This year let’s commit to embracing the growth we have already experienced and trust that, no matter what happens, we are ready for the next step. The road ahead will surely have its challenges, but it will also be filled with opportunities for us to rise, to stretch higher, and to become more of who we are meant to be. Like the tree that eventually provides shelter and shade to others, we, too, can offer support, love, and kindness to those around us. Together, we can grow into the people we are destined to be. Here’s to 2025! May it be a year of strength, of growth, and of new beginnings!
Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum PhD.
