In this week's Parsha Lech Lecha, we read about one of the test's that Hashem tested Avraham with. This test was to leave his birth place and his father's house and to go to the place which Hashem would show him. Some of the commentators explain that of all of the tests which Avraham was given this was the most difficult test as it required him to basically go into exile, and leave everything that he grew up with and was accustomed to.  Avraham was commanded directly from Hashem to travel and take a "different path". Although we generally are not faced with such dramatic changes in life and we certainly haven't heard G-d command us directly to change directions, nevertheless we can learn from this test.

Many times in life we are convinced that we should be going to a certain school, marry a certain mate, work at a certain job or profession and no matter what we try and do we aren't successful. Time after time again it seems like the "door is closed" on us as we pursue our dreams. At a certain point we need to step back and realize that G-d is talking to us, we have done everything in our effort and things are still not going like we wanted, then G-d is telling us to change directions, abandon the plan, pursue something else. This may obviously seem very difficult but we should be able to look at the situation with clarity and trust, that the path we thought was right for us is not. Furthermore we should be grateful that G-d has prevented us from going on a path that isn't proper for us. We can follow in the steps of Avraham and go in the direction that Hashem shows us.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath