There are several metaphors that we use to describe and reflect on our life as human beings. The concepts of a road, path, or journey are a few that lend well to the different directions and twists and turns our lives take. For some the rollercoaster metaphor is more fitting with life’s ups and downs. And yet others would compare their life to a mountain range with many peaks and valleys. The reason why we have so many different ways of expressing the human condition with these metaphors is that life is complicated, unpredictable, and ultimately, not entirely in our own control.

This week in Parashat Lech Lecha we are taught this lesson quite well as we read about the life of Abraham and Sarah. God calls to Abram and elects him to be the father of the Jewish people. Abram responds and he and Sarai begin their journey away from their native land. It turns out there is a famine in the land so they go to settle in Egypt. In Egypt, they acquire great wealth, but once Pharoah learns that Abram lied about Sarai’s true identity, they are banished from Egypt. Next, we read about the quarrel between Abram and his nephew Lot. This family strife ends with an amicable separation between Lot and Abram. No sooner then they separate, warfare spreads, Lot is taken captive, and Abram goes to war, successfully rescuing Lot and his family and possessions.

Towards the end of the parashah, we learn about Abram and Sarai’s struggle with infertility. Sarai, frustrated and saddened, offers Abram to have a child by way of her servant Hagar. Once Hagar conceives a child, Sarai’s esteem gets damaged and she attempts to banish Hagar, who ultimately returns and bears a son, Ishmael. The parashah concludes with God reiterating God’s promise and establishing a covenant with Abram. Abram and Sarai’s names are changed to Abraham and Sarah and the males of the household are circumcised as a sign of the covenant.

Through all of these triumphs and tribulations one thing that remained constant in the lives of Abraham and Sarah was the presence of the divine. During their adventures, God stood by their side. Despite their human flaws and errors of judgment at times, God still made the covenant with Abraham. And although they may have questioned God, Abraham and Sarah never lost faith or a connection with God.

While most of us don’t go through as many life-altering and dramatic incidents as Abraham and Sarah, we easily relate to this notion that life is full of joy and sadness, success and failure, sickness and health. What we gain from the insights of our Torah is a message of how to make meaning and to cope in our lives through good times and bad. One way is by developing and maintaining a spiritual connection with God and with each other. Through our connection to God and the Jewish community, our lives, whatever direction they take are enriched.

Rabbi Brad Horwitz of the JCC Helene Mirowitz Department of Jewish Community Life prepared this week’s Torah portion.