A Moment in Time: “Cleared to Land”

Dear all,

As our family approached the small airport in a small plane for our vacation, we lined up with the runway lights, and I could hear the captain affirm that we were “cleared to land.”

As an aviation enthusiast, (and as the son of a pilot), I always have a thrill upon approach.

And as a rabbi, (and as the son-in-law of a rabbi), I find additional meaning from “cleared to land.”

When we have clarity, the approach to our intended goals is fairly straight forward.

But we so often get blown off course.

Or we so often get disoriented in a fog.

Or we so often get distracted by inclement conditions.

And so we have an obligation to seek clarity wherever possible. It may require extra thrust of our engines or a different altitude (or attitude) for perspective, or perhaps a “go around.“. It might even involve an alternative approach on another runway or even at another airport.

So we try. And we try again.

And in that moment in time when things line up so that we are cleared for landing, the entire world seems to embrace our approach!

With love and shalom.

Rabbi Zach Shapiro