Consider the airplane: at first glance, it appears entirely unsuitable for flight. Unlike a car, which is inherently designed to move on the ground and does so effortlessly, an airplane sits awkwardly on the runway, seemingly out of its element. This incongruity underscores a profound truth — an airplane cannot fulfill its purpose of flight until it starts moving. It is the action of moving, the acceleration along the runway, that transforms its potential into reality. As it gathers speed, the air begins to flow under its wings, creating the lift necessary for it to rise into the sky. Until this moment of motion, its capacity for flight remains latent, unrealized.
This process mirrors the spiritual journey in a compelling way. Just as the airplane must be in motion to discover its true capability for flight, so too must individuals actively engage in their spiritual path. The initial steps may seem daunting, perhaps even counterintuitive, as if venturing into an unknown realm for which we were not made. Yet, it is through this movement — the earnest pursuit of spiritual growth, even without the certainty of immediate elevation — that we encounter the forces that lift us.
This dynamic serves as a profound metaphor for the spiritual journey, especially when viewed through the lens of the Kabbalistic axiom "We shall do and we shall hear." This principle signifies a departure from conventional logic, where understanding precedes action. In the spiritual context, it proposes a reversal of this order. The axiom suggests that true spiritual understanding and elevation come not from preliminary comprehension but from the act of engaging in spiritual practices and commitments. Just as the airplane must first move to realize its capacity for flight, so too must we engage in spiritual actions — even without full understanding — to unlock our spiritual potential and ascend.
The analogy extends further when considering the airplane's design. It is, in fact, meticulously crafted for flight, every aspect engineered for the skies. This inherent design is only revealed through action, through the decision to move forward and embrace the potential within. Similarly, we are reminded that we, too, are inherently equipped for spirituality. Thus, the airplane serves as a profound metaphor for spiritual endeavor. It teaches us that our greatest potential is often latent, waiting to be unveiled through action. Just as the airplane rises to meet the sky, so can we ascend to greater spiritual heights, revealing our true purpose and capacity for divine connection.