An essay i wrote for the Hamodia 4 years ago, in 9th grade.
Life is like an airplane ride. There are many ups and downs; some hard moments and some smooth times. Before you begin, a flight attendant shows you a safety pamphlet, and teaches you what to do in case of emergency. This is the malach, teaching you the Torah before you are born. As quickly as it began, the demonstration is over, the safety pamphlet is tucked away, all the Torah forgotten.
The plane starts moving, lifting. You clamp your eyes shut, ears popping, as you grip the armrest beside you with all your strength - the beginning of life,when you clung to someone else's finger, shaken and unstable. All of a sudden you're off, and as you get used to the engine's rumble, H-Shem's ways, you forget the stressful takeoff - everything is fine, all is well.
Then chips and drinks are brought to you. These are the times during your life when everything just seems wonderful and perfect - the ups of life, all part of H-Shem's master plan. But then there's a commotion. That empty seat next to you that you were really enjoying becomes occupied by a 300 hundred pound, 7 foot giant, who settles into his seat, and into half of yours! "Why now?" you think miserably - the sad, lonely moments of life, the cloudy days when everything seems to go wrong.
Well, you've got to move on, find something to do. You can shmooze with the person sitting beside you, play a game, watch a movie, or open a sefer and learn. You have free choice in this life; its up to you. You can choose what you want to do with life, but afterwards, whatever you decided will be reflected back to you. If you were good, you'll receive good in return. And remember - although you may be able to do what you want on the plane, there is Someone higher than you, the Pilot, Hakadosh Baruch Hu who can direct the ride in any direction He likes.
Suddenly there's turbulence. The plane shakes furiously from side to side, and everyone pulls out the safety pamphlets now, studying them frantically. Don't wait until tragedy strikes to turn to H-Shem. Now the seat belt light goes on. Sometimes in life you have to buckle down and make some changes in this wonderful ride.
Then you lean back in your seat, tired - the senior years. If you have accomplished until now, you feel satisfied. And then, all too soon, you find yourself at the end of this ride called life. The plane begins to descend, the landing gears snaps into place, and you feel as helpless as you did at the beginning of the trip. Then, touchdown. You are back at home where you belong, at last.
Life is like an airplane ride. There are many ups and downs; some hard moments and some smooth times. Before you begin, a flight attendant shows you a safety pamphlet, and teaches you what to do in case of emergency. This is the malach, teaching you the Torah before you are born. As quickly as it began, the demonstration is over, the safety pamphlet is tucked away, all the Torah forgotten.
The plane starts moving, lifting. You clamp your eyes shut, ears popping, as you grip the armrest beside you with all your strength - the beginning of life,when you clung to someone else's finger, shaken and unstable. All of a sudden you're off, and as you get used to the engine's rumble, H-Shem's ways, you forget the stressful takeoff - everything is fine, all is well.
Then chips and drinks are brought to you. These are the times during your life when everything just seems wonderful and perfect - the ups of life, all part of H-Shem's master plan. But then there's a commotion. That empty seat next to you that you were really enjoying becomes occupied by a 300 hundred pound, 7 foot giant, who settles into his seat, and into half of yours! "Why now?" you think miserably - the sad, lonely moments of life, the cloudy days when everything seems to go wrong.
Well, you've got to move on, find something to do. You can shmooze with the person sitting beside you, play a game, watch a movie, or open a sefer and learn. You have free choice in this life; its up to you. You can choose what you want to do with life, but afterwards, whatever you decided will be reflected back to you. If you were good, you'll receive good in return. And remember - although you may be able to do what you want on the plane, there is Someone higher than you, the Pilot, Hakadosh Baruch Hu who can direct the ride in any direction He likes.
Suddenly there's turbulence. The plane shakes furiously from side to side, and everyone pulls out the safety pamphlets now, studying them frantically. Don't wait until tragedy strikes to turn to H-Shem. Now the seat belt light goes on. Sometimes in life you have to buckle down and make some changes in this wonderful ride.
Then you lean back in your seat, tired - the senior years. If you have accomplished until now, you feel satisfied. And then, all too soon, you find yourself at the end of this ride called life. The plane begins to descend, the landing gears snaps into place, and you feel as helpless as you did at the beginning of the trip. Then, touchdown. You are back at home where you belong, at last.