Did Sarah live a boring life?

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This week’s Parsha begins with a surprising verse: “Sarah lived for 100 years and 20 years and 7 years, the years of the life of Sarah.” Rashi comments that, “the years of the life of Sarah,” teaches us that all her years were equal in goodness. Does that mean that she was the same all her life?  Did she not grow in goodness and holiness?


Most of her life she was called Sarai, “my minister.”  When she was 89 Hashem changed her name to Sarah, “minister” - meaning minister to others, not just her family. Clearly Sarah experienced personal growth.  How can we say that all her years were equal?


We all change over time. We hope that as we mature we have more knowledge, more experience, and more power to make a difference. Certainly we can accomplish much more as adults than we ever could as children.


But each day we have an opportunity to be our best. Equal in goodness does not mean equal in outcome. It means that each day, whatever level we may be on, we live up to our full potential. Every day is a stepping stone to tomorrow.


This is also alluded to by the strange ordering of Sarah’s age. Instead of 127 years, the Torah lists her age as 100 years and 20 years and 7 years. This is teaching us that Sarah used the first seven years to the fullest, which led to further growth until age 20, and more so until age 100.


This Shabbat I have the honor of joining almost 5,000 colleagues at the Chabad Shluchim Convention in New York. I remember the first convention I attended – all 85 of us. There is no question that Chabad’s outreach then was nowhere near as robust or global as it is today. 


But I see how the Rebbe applied the message of personal growth. He encouraged us to use our abilities to our fullest potential, overcoming whatever challenges we faced. And here we are today, a force for goodness and kindness that spans the globe and affects millions of people..


And this message is for everyone, not just shluchim. Be the best you can be today. Use your G-d given talents and abilities to their fullest. Focus on today, and tomorrow will be amazing.

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