Last week, we held a staff retreat to assess the breadth and inter-relationships of our programs, services, and other activities, and to do some in depth thinking on a couple of specific issues. We began the day with a brief exercise of sharing some personal information that was designed to build a community of trust among us. Based on the rich and engaging conversations that we had the rest of the day, I believe the initial exercise was integral to laying the proper foundation for each participant to share and listen for the substantive discussions which followed.

This week's parashah, Shelah Lekha, has some important lessons on trust and the consequences in a community in which trust is lacking. We read about the 12 spies who serve as the advance party for the Israelites mass movement into the Promised Land. Only two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, recommend the immediate entry into the land. The other ten acknowledge the great natural abundances of the land of milk and honey, but they are intimidated by the physical presence of the land's inhabitants. So, they caution against entry and the people endorse this position and spend the night bemoaning and bewailing their situation, even wishing for a return to Egypt. Despite their personal experience over the previous year, with God leading and supporting them to their redemption from slavery and journey to a new land and nationhood, they exhibit doubt, both the 10 spies and the rest of the people, and declare defeat before even attempting to move forward. Their punishment is swift and decisive, none of them will be allowed to enter Israel and they will be forced to wander for the next 39 years until the last of the adult population are gone.

How much better off would the people have been if they had trusted their experiences, and the wise reports of Caleb and Joshua? They had been challenged to trust that God would be there for them at this ultimate stage of deliverance and they were overwhelmed by the challenge and succumbed to fear. This exhibits a lack of faith in themselves, as well as their ability to build a community together. Trust in the process and what got you this far can continue to move you forward. A valuable lesson for us all.