The Longest Distance: Head to Heart

There’s a story I heard once about a religious man who got into a taxi in Israel.

As often happens, the driver struck up a conversation. “I can tell you’re religious,” the cab driver said. “I have a friend who became religious through a crazy story.”

He continued: “My friend and I served in the army together. One day, we were walking through a field when a huge snake wrapped itself around my friend’s leg and started squeezing tighter and tighter.

My friend yelled out to Hashem and said that if He would save his life, he would become religious. And just like that, the snake loosened its grip, slithered off his leg, and disappeared.”

The passenger was in awe. “That’s an amazing story!” he exclaimed. “So, what about you? Why didn’t you become religious after seeing that?”

The cab driver answered simply: “Because it happened to my friend, not to me.”

What’s the difference? Two people, witnessing the same miraculous event, took two completely different paths.

One man recognized it as a sign, took a step toward Hashem, and changed his life. The other dismissed it because it didn’t happen to him personally.

This story, in many ways, captures a universal truth about our lives: everything we see and experience is intentional, tailored by Hashem for each of us.

When we choose to ignore those signs, we risk losing out on opportunities to become our best selves.

The cab driver’s response is a powerful reminder that it’s not enough to see or even believe in something—we have to take action based on what we see.

The signs are there for us to internalize and grow from. If we want to truly change, we must go beyond merely recognizing the truth to living it out in our day-to-day lives.

Knowing Isn’t Enough

We often encounter moments in our lives when we know we’re not living up to our fullest potential. We have the knowledge and understand what we should be doing, but putting it into practice is another story entirely.

How many times have you stayed up late, scrolling through your phone when you knew you should be getting some sleep?

I know I am guilty of this.

You’re aware that getting a good night’s sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health. Better sleep means better focus, more energy, and better choices throughout the day.

Yet, night after night, you find yourself staring at that screen, knowing it’s time to turn in—but not actually doing it.

It’s not a lack of knowledge that holds us back; it’s the difficulty of translating what we know into action.

As we say in Aleinu: “V’yadata Hayom V’Hashevota el Levavecha”—“You shall know today and place it in your heart.”

We need to take what we understand in our minds and embed it in our hearts, making it part of who we are and how we live.

But why don’t we do it?

Sometimes, because we’re in our comfort zone. Other times, we deceive ourselves because we’re afraid. Afraid to change. Afraid to admit that we’ve been doing it wrong all along.

It’s easier to stay in our comfort zone, to rationalize our behaviors rather than confront them head-on.

Recognizing the Signs

The world is full of messages and signs from Hashem, but we have to be willing to see them and take the first step.

I once heard a story about a religious man who used to travel to Miami frequently for business. He would stay with his very secular cousin.

Every time the religious cousin tried to talk about Judaism, the secular cousin would brush him off.

One day, the religious cousin returned to Miami and noticed something different. There was a mezuzah on the door. When he walked in, he saw his cousin wearing a kippa and living a religious lifestyle. Stunned, he asked what happened.

The cousin explained that one day, he heard a commotion and looked out his apartment window, which faced the beach. He saw a group of people in suits standing on the shore.

Curious, he went down to check it out. It turned out to be Rosh Hashanah, and they were doing tashlich. The people invited him to join, asked if he had heard the shofar, and blew the shofar for him right there.

That experience moved him deeply. He decided then and there to start learning more about his Jewish heritage.

One step. That’s all it took. He could have ignored the noise, but instead, he took the first step and asked what was happening. Hashem did the rest.

The same is true for Moshe Rabbeinu. He was out with his flock and noticed a burning bush. Something that must have caught the attention of many people passing by.

But only Moshe decided to stop, take a closer look, and investigate. He took that first step, and it changed his life—and the destiny of the entire Jewish people—forever.

Hashem Wants Us to Take the First Step

In my own journey, I knew Hashem was sending me signs that the business I was working on wasn’t what He wanted for me.

Deep down, I felt a calling toward something else, something more aligned with sharing Torah and building others through Emuna, Bitachon, and Torah values.

But I ignored it, stubbornly clinging to what I was comfortable with and knew. I told myself that building the business was my way of doing my part, my hishtadlut.

But it was just an excuse.

It was only when I finally took the first step and began this new journey—creating content, sharing my experiences, and spreading Torah—that things started to change.

Suddenly, everything flowed with ease. Hashem doesn’t just meet us halfway. Once we take the first step, He carries us the rest of the way, helping us achieve things we never thought possible.

What Step Can You Take?

Wherever you are in life, Hashem is sending you signs. He’s showing you things and giving you experiences for a reason.

The question is: are you willing to take the first step?

Here’s a suggestion: Talk to Hashem. Have an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to be. Ask Him for help in moving your knowledge from your head to your heart.

Start learning a sefer like Mesilat Yesharim, Chovot Halevavot, or another mussar sefer that speaks to you. Or find a Torah podcast that focuses on these topics and start listening regularly. Immerse yourself in the content that will help you grow.

If you’re ready to really dive in, consider taking the Elul 7-Day Sprint. Use these seven days to focus on a small change you’ve been wanting to make and see how Hashem steps in to help you once you take that initial leap.

Don’t wait for something miraculous to happen to you personally before you take action.

The cab driver saw his friend’s life change, yet it didn’t change him. Every sign is a message meant for you. Take that first step today, no matter how small it seems. Hashem is waiting to carry you the rest of the way.

Remember: the journey from the mind to the heart is the longest one. But once you take that first step, Hashem will be right there with you, helping you close the distance.

So, what’s your first step going to be?

Help Spread Torah:

Living the Dream