Delivery drivers are paid to deliver whatever items you purchase; they are not paid to deliver life lessons and advice. Recently, however, I had an encounter with a delivery driver who not only delivered the purchased goods, but he also delivered some hard-core inspiration and mussar.
I noticed that the man was decked out in Baltimore Ravens football merch. He had a Ravens sweatshirt as well as a Ravens hat. Jokingly, I asked him if he’d ever wear a Pittsburgh Steelers hat instead of the one he was currently wearing? I just wanted to see his reaction, as I am well aware of the intense rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What started out as a joke to make conversation ended up turning into a powerful takeaway about personal conviction and confidence. He said to me, “No! I would never wear a Steelers hat.” Startled at his level of intensity and conviction, I pressed further, “What if it was freezing cold outside, and the only hat available was a Steelers hat, would you wear it then?” Without hesitation, he responded, “No! I would never wear a Steelers hat.”
I decided to take a drastic approach, and pressed on further, “What if you were so cold, you were literally about to die, would you put on the Steelers hat?” His answer shocked me. Again, without any hesitation whatsoever, he said, “No! I would choose to die!”
Perplexed, yet somewhat impressed at this man’s position, I asked him to explain himself. He went on to tell me that in his mind, the Pittsburgh Steelers hat is not even viewed as a hat in his mind. He told me that since he was a kid, it has been ingrained and instilled within him to follow the Baltimore Ravens. “More than just the team and the players on the team,” he said, “it’s more about who they represent, my city – my hometown.”
I wished him the best of luck and he drove away. As I stood there, still in shock from our conversation, I completely forgot – nor cared – about whatever package he had just delivered. Instead, I was left holding a much larger – more valuable – package, in my head. I thought about what he told me, and then thought about my life and wondered if I had as much passion and conviction for the things that are important to me, as he had for the things that were important to him.
Of course, being willing to die rather than put on an opposing team’s hat is quite silly and shallow, in my humble opinion. But there is what to learn from this fellow’s strong mindset and personal conviction. Our Sages tell us that a wise person can learn something from all people. Even from a Baltimore Ravens fanatic? Yes, even a Baltimore Ravens fanatic.
My simple encounter with the delivery driver taught me that every human being needs something that they are passionate about. And while yes, it is important to have something worth dying for, Judaism teaches us that even more importantly, a person should have something that is worth living for.
In the Purim story, Mordechai displays his passion and conviction of serving Hashem by not bowing to Haman. In Parshas Vayikra, we are taught about the simple Mincha offering, of which it says נפש – Hashem regards this simple yet genuine offering as if he had offered his very soul! The more genuine we are, the more passionate we will be. This is the simple recipe for a meaningful life that is worth living for.
Ori Strum is the author of Ready. Set. Grow. and the host of The Torah Sparks Podcast. His favorite color is metallic blue and he has a knack for learning life lessons from random things.
Delivery drivers are paid to deliver whatever items you purchase; they are not paid to deliver life lessons and advice. Recently, however, I had an encounter with a delivery driver who not only delivered the purchased goods, but he also delivered some hard-core inspiration and mussar.
I noticed that the man was decked out in Baltimore Ravens football merch. He had a Ravens sweatshirt as well as a Ravens hat. Jokingly, I asked him if he’d ever wear a Pittsburgh Steelers hat instead of the one he was currently wearing? I just wanted to see his reaction, as I am well aware of the intense rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What started out as a joke to make conversation ended up turning into a powerful takeaway about personal conviction and confidence. He said to me, “No! I would never wear a Steelers hat.” Startled at his level of intensity and conviction, I pressed further, “What if it was freezing cold outside, and the only hat available was a Steelers hat, would you wear it then?” Without hesitation, he responded, “No! I would never wear a Steelers hat.”
I decided to take a drastic approach, and pressed on further, “What if you were so cold, you were literally about to die, would you put on the Steelers hat?” His answer shocked me. Again, without any hesitation whatsoever, he said, “No! I would choose to die!”
Perplexed, yet somewhat impressed at this man’s position, I asked him to explain himself. He went on to tell me that in his mind, the Pittsburgh Steelers hat is not even viewed as a hat in his mind. He told me that since he was a kid, it has been ingrained and instilled within him to follow the Baltimore Ravens. “More than just the team and the players on the team,” he said, “it’s more about who they represent, my city – my hometown.”
I wished him the best of luck and he drove away. As I stood there, still in shock from our conversation, I completely forgot – nor cared – about whatever package he had just delivered. Instead, I was left holding a much larger – more valuable – package, in my head. I thought about what he told me, and then thought about my life and wondered if I had as much passion and conviction for the things that are important to me, as he had for the things that were important to him.
Of course, being willing to die rather than put on an opposing team’s hat is quite silly and shallow, in my humble opinion. But there is what to learn from this fellow’s strong mindset and personal conviction. Our Sages tell us that a wise person can learn something from all people. Even from a Baltimore Ravens fanatic? Yes, even a Baltimore Ravens fanatic.
My simple encounter with the delivery driver taught me that every human being needs something that they are passionate about. And while yes, it is important to have something worth dying for, Judaism teaches us that even more importantly, a person should have something that is worth living for.
In the Purim story, Mordechai displays his passion and conviction of serving Hashem by not bowing to Haman. In Parshas Vayikra, we are taught about the simple Mincha offering, of which it says נפש – Hashem regards this simple yet genuine offering as if he had offered his very soul! The more genuine we are, the more passionate we will be. This is the simple recipe for a meaningful life that is worth living for.
Have a Holy Shabbos
