Look Forward Not Backwards

Parshat עקב begins with the word, “והיה,” which represents happiness and joy. This is as opposed to the word, “ויהי,” which is a word that warns of trouble ahead. (An example is from the Megilla, ויהי בימי אחשורוש, that represented the problems with Haman.)

The “והיה” represents an optimistic view of the future. The “ויהי” reflects a pondering of the past that led to the problems at hand.

Rabbi Twerski pointed out that, in general, happy people are future oriented. Sad people are past oriented. We are meant to learn the lessons of the past, but not dwell on it. One cannot grow spiritually, when he is focused on carrying the burden of the past. The idea of Shabbat is that it is a time when we recharge the batteries, so that we can look forward to the coming week in a positive manner.

The Torah, in a very subtle way, is giving us a lesson in thinking in the right way. It is letting us know how important it is to be in the right frame of mind, that will allow us to serve Hashem and grow in holiness. We must take the “והיה” approach, and not, “ויהי.”