From the Rabbi

A Timely Message about the Broncos

Very often in life, things happen to us that are confusing. How are we supposed to feel? Should I be happy or sad? Grateful, or filled with self-pity? Perhaps the most profound example of this dichotomy occurred to us all on Saturday night. Personally, I was feeling quite jolly, if not euphoric, when I got home from my parents' home after having watched a recording of the Broncos-Bills game. After all, the Broncos were going back to the AFC Championship after having beaten the scariest team left in the playoffs. But then, upon reentering reality, I saw all over the news that our beloved quarterback, Bo Nix, had broken his ankle and would miss the rest of the playoffs. How was I supposed to feel? On one hand, the Broncos won their biggest game in over a decade. And on the other hand, our beloved leader was injured, and our hopes to advance to the Super Bowl appeared ever so bleak.

Fortunately, our Torah is a Toras Chaim, an instruction manual for life, and as such, it offers eternal, timeless guidance– like how to feel about our beloved Broncos in a moment like this. 

In the second chapter of Pirkei Avos, the Mishnah discusses the very best traits a person should try to which a person should cleave. Rabbi Eliezer said it is to have an ayin tova. A good eye. Life is full of situations in which we can choose to see things positively or negatively. And the reality is, if we view life through a negative lens, we will be miserable, negative people. If we view life through a positive lens, we will be joyful, happy people. 

With this in mind, I turned my thoughts to the Broncos victory/ Bo Nix injury conundrum: I can choose to feel blissful, as I did after the game, or I can choose to feel miserable, like I did immediately after hearing the injury news. The Broncos run, it seemed, feels too good to be true. Why did this have to happen to us? 

And then I wondered what Rabbi Eleizer would say about seeing this with a good eye: Yes, it is unfortunate that our star quarterback, who returned the city of Denver to football glory, is injured. Very unfortunate. But, if anyone told me a few months ago the Broncos would be hosting the AFC championship game, I would have been overwhelmed with joy and excitement. Even if the Broncos -Heaven forbid– lose, this has been a fantastically successful season. 

Secondly, my good eye compels me to understand that win or lose, we really win. On Monday morning, we will wake up in beautiful Denver, Colorado. The city with 300 days of sunshine. The city where the shimmering mountains glisten in the distance, inviting us to come visit for a hike or ski day– snow permitting. We could wake up in grey, cold Boston, as most Patriots fans will on Monday morning, too scared to walk outside for fear the bitter cold wind will leave us frost-bitten.

And finally,  my “good eye” also compels me to believe that the Broncos will, in fact, win. One of the most important roles in the game of football is the role of the head coach. The Broncos coach knows how to win. He knows how to tailor a game plan uniquely crafted to the skill set of his backup quarterback. In fact, by my count, he led his three backups in New Orleans, where he was previously the Saints' head coach, to a stunning 17-4 record. 

So it’s not all gloom after all– the Broncos will win this game, and advance to the Super Bowl. 

And with that, a good Shabbos to all!