May the Best Loser, Win!

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

Moshe descended from Mount Sinai in disappointment. He had been away for just 40 days, and somehow the people had fashioned a golden calf.  As he reached the bottom of the mountain and encountered Yehoshua. Yehoshuawas waiting loyally for Moshe’s return and was unaware of what had happened in the camp. He only knew that there were shouts coming from the camp. So he conjectured and says to Moshe, “There is a sound of battle in the camp.” Moshe responds grimly, “There are no shouts of a victor, not even shouts of a loser. Only shouts are in the camp.”

Moshe’s response wasn’t just a way to make conversation. Moshe’s response was indicative of his attitude to the incident of the golden calf. Had there been some sort of opposition to the golden calf, had someone managed to create a dialogue of opposition, Moshe would have been satisfied. What frustrated him most was that there was no “battle” in the camp. Some people participated; others did not. But there was no battle. There was neither the sound of a victor, nor the sound of a loser. Only shouts of confusion were in the camp.

Sometimes in life we confront a challenge and we are victorious. But sometimes victory isn’t ours. We may confront a challenge of personal growth or of community development, and fail. Moshe’s message is that failure is okay. Actual success is not up to you. What is important is that you gave it your best shot.

In some cases the fear of failing is so significant that we are scared to undertake goals at which we might fail. I once met a lawyer who told me that he never lost a case. When I asked him how he did that, he said that he simply doesn’t accept a case if he thinks he might lose. Such an approach handicaps and dramatically limits a person’s potential.

I recall how, as a young boy, I used to go hiking on a brook in my backyard. I was always very cautious, and I would never take a step until I could identify the rock that I would step on and the overhanging branch that I would hold. One day I was hiking together with a friend who was much less cautious. As my friend sped over the rocks he slipped and fell into the water. I gasped. But my friend got up quickly. Although he was soaked, he flashed me a big smile. He said, “If you aren’t willing to slip every now and then, then you can’t really enjoy hiking on a brook.”

As one thoughtful person said: If you never tasted failure, if you never got “no” as an answer, then you probably never reached your outer limits.

The situation that Moshe feared most wasn’t the sound of losing. A situation of just sliding through life is what Moshe feared most. A person must live life with conscious intent.  “Sounds of confusion are in the camp.” That is what Moshe found most frustrating. Moshe would find it pleasing and meaningful when a person tries, even if he loses.

So the next time you encounter a challenge that seems bigger than you, don’t ignore it. Strategize. Instead of giving up, go ahead and try. You may win; you may lose. If you win, fine and good. If you lose, you will be able to say, “Listen, at least I tried. I tried! And soon I’ll try again.”

© 2017 by TEACH613™