The Lone Walk
Yesterday I learned of a Massachusetts tradition for the first time. The “Lone Walk” of the outgoing Governor at the end of his term, symbolizing his transition out of the public sector. The crossing of the “street,” to the opposite side of the State house, is also a ritualized “granting of permission” of sorts allowing the Governor to cross back over to the side where the people live.
Truthfully however, though there is no formal tradition in this regard, the walk of the incoming Governor INTO the state house, signaling the beginning of a new term is a “Lone Walk” as well.
There must be an inherent element of loneliness for the man at the top. A loneliness borne not as a result of a shortage of interactions with others, to the contrary, our new Governor will have to fight fiercely for every morsel of privacy and space that he can get. He will also be surrounded by an extraordinary loving family and loyal friends.
The loneliness that I speak of is more of an existential nature. The privilege associated with becoming the highest ranking elected official in the state, bears with it the highest level of responsibility as well.
Though the Governor will surely be surrounded by a highly skilled, generous hearted team of seasoned community leaders, each one well suited for their respective portfolios, he stands alone in bearing the sole burden of accountability.
Moses was the quintessential leader of the Bible. Before his inauguration as the first “Governor” of the Jewish people he too takes a “lone walk” into the wilderness carving out the space for some serious introspection.
It is only against the backdrop of the wide open desert expansiveness, amid the utter silence, that he undergoes a broadening of his awareness, opening up to a sublime encounter with G-d that fortifies him with the insight and clarity needed to move ahead with conviction.
The encounter begins with the Burning bush; “…and behold he saw the bush burning but it was not consumed.”
This might have been G-ds ways of validating his fears. Moses says “I am feeling passionate about this right now, but once I start feeling the heat, how can I roll up my sleeves to do battle with the Pharaohs and yet manage to remain focused, how will I REMAIN passionate and committed when I’m no longer surrounded by the serenity of the wilderness?”
G-d replies “remove your shoes from your feet for the ground upon which you stand is sacred.” G-d is teaching Moses, that the ground of service to others, is the holiest terrain one could ever hope to tread upon. The Shoes that he will have to wear into office symbolize the sometimes disheartening trappings associated with the Job. When those shoes start to feel too tight g-d advises him — “take them off until you feel sufficiently re-grounded, keep them off until you can once again hear the “groan of your people” trapped in Egypt.”
Still Moses is not quite there yet. In his humility he is saying, “I am only one person, can I truly hope to confront Pharaoh and succeed in transforming the outdated thinking of an entire culture?” “..WHO AM I that I should go to Pharoah ..?”
G-d answers by reassuring him that he is not alone “… for I will be with you .. for I have sent you…!!!!”
This week we draw energy from the unique coinciding of the Inauguration of Moses as the Governor of our people in the weekly Torah reading, and the inauguration of our own Swampscott Neighbor, The honorable Charlie Baker as the Governor of our great State of Massachusetts.
Perhaps this can inspire us to find a quiet space to meditate and take our own “lone walk” to remind ourselves, that we too have each been elected to act as the kind, compassionate, and wise “Governors” of our individual lives. To remind us WHY we were elected, and step up and re — inaugurate ourselves to the most important position we will ever hold.
In doing so we must bear in mind that the “lone walk” of Moses, is ironically what reminded him that he was never truly alone.
Neither is our New Governor.
Neither are we.
Much Love
Rabbi Yossi