Travel Safe – Part 2
Most people spend hours every day on the road, and people go traveling on vacations or to visit family. Therefore, it is crucially important to learn how to travel safely...
In Part 1, I explained the important connection between traveling and emuna, and how traveling can either be Heaven – or Hell – on earth.
Here a few more important points to remember while traveling:
1. Be on the lookout for danger.
Chazal teach us that “all roads are considered dangerous” – even if someone is traveling for the sake of a mitzvah. This is compounded by the fact that a person faces a special judgment in times of danger whether to be saved from it! It is therefore important to recognize the danger and ask Hashem to save him and everyone else who is traveling. Also remember that the Gemara teaches: “Be more cautious of danger, even than of doing something forbidden.”
2. Be a smart driver.
Someone who thinks that he is a good driver is the biggest fool. Safe driving is dependent only on Hashem! You can be the best driver, but you aren’t the only driver on the road, nor can you see everything happening all around you at every moment. And even the best driver can make mistakes, be tired, have kids screaming in the background – and it only takes one split second for there to be an accident, G-d forbid.
Therefore, do everything you possibly can, but know that nothing is’t dependent only on you, and the danger still looms. Put yourself into Hashem’s hands, because if Hashem is guarding you, then truly nothing can harm you.
3. There’s a delay or traffic jam? Fantastic!
Every delay is for the best. Pray, learn, put a lesson on your mp3 player, whatever. Someone with emuna doesn’t let himself get pressured or angry. Instead, he uses every moment to the best of his ability.
4. Do mitzvot!
Traveling provides ample opportunities to do kindness and other mitzvot. It’s enough just to smile, and you’ve literally revived someone else. Even if you have the right of way, let the other person turn first. You probably won’t lose any time because of it, and you’ll bring upon yourself mercy and Divine Guidance, plus atone for times when your emuna was weak.
5. Remember that you represent Hashem.
A religious Jew always represents Hashem. If you are good and kind while traveling, stay seated when you are told, fasten your seat belt, etc. – this is a huge Kiddush Hashem – sanctification of Hashem’s name, which brings big blessings in its wake. And if, G-d forbid, you disobey the law, get angry, don’t let pedestrians cross, smoke where you are not supposed to, etc. – in addition to the sins themselves, plus oftentimes causing pain to other people, you add upon them the terrible sin of Chillul Hashem – desecrating Hashem’s name – in public. The Rambam teaches that this sin is so serious that it doesn’t even matter if it was done accidentally, and even repentance and suffering does not atone for it!
6. Follow the law.
According to emuna, the rules of the road are also the rules of Hashem. The law guards everyone and creates order. This is Hashem’s will, and it’s also emuna. Remember very well that at every turn on the road, you can choose to do Hashem’s will and bring upon yourself Divine mercy, or choose to go against Hashem’s will and bring down more Divine wrath upon yourself, G-d forbid.
Someone who travels with emuna fulfills the verse, “Know Hashem in all your ways” and he serves Hashem every single moment that he is traveling. He also fulfills the verse in the Shema: “When you sit in your house, and when you go on your way.” All the physical danger truly stems from the spiritual danger of how easily many people forget Hashem while traveling.
Keep this article in your car, and constantly remind yourself of these important points before you travel. In this merit, you will guard yourself and those around you, and bring the rectification of the entire world in the light of emuna.
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